Qu Bushi stepped forward at once and said respectfully,
"Reporting to the Family Head, it is indeed Guan Lingdie. She herself was sent to the East Sea by Duxian Dao. As for Duxian Dao itself... there has been heavy shuffling of personnel lately, replacing several people near the Baijiang Stream territory."
"Guan Gongxiao dotes on his younger sister after all."
Li Jiangqian nodded slightly to himself, fully understanding the sentiment. Though opportunities abounded around a True Monarch, if put in Guan Gongxiao's place, even if Li Quewan had not entered seclusion early for a breakthrough, he would never have had the heart to send her over either...
*Personnel shuffling... The Guan clan hasn't scraped the floorboards and sent every female cultivator they could find in the sect over there, have they? Given Guan Gongxiao's temperament, it wouldn't be out of character...*
When dealing with matters concerning a True Monarch, female cultivators were always more convenient than male ones. Over the past few years, Li Jiangqian had already gradually replaced the cultivators stationed on the north bank with members of the Fei family and female cultivators to prevent any unexpected incidents.
Qu Bushi lowered his head slightly and continued,
"During these past few months of confrontation between our two clans, clashes have gradually broken out. Quite a few aristocratic families and demonic cultivators have come to pry. One lurked on the periphery, but his skills were mediocre at best. Master Cui spotted him across the river with a single glance and captured him."
"He has already been brought to the side hall, awaiting your inspection..."
Li Jiangqian was not surprised and replied,
"I am already aware. He is from Huaihun Hall. Protector Cui sent a letter earlier; I will interrogate him shortly."
His smile took on a chill as he added,
"Their boldness knows no bounds. Not only on the river, but demonic cultivators have also been snooping around our north bank. We have been far too lenient with him. A mere Foundation Establishment demonic cultivator, rounding up a rabble of motley vagabonds, dares to pry at our mountain gates..."
He thought coldly to himself:
*If not for the gravity of greater affairs... for vermin like him, dispatching a single protector would have been enough to bring his head back!*
Hearing this sent a shiver through Qu Bushi. He had not anticipated the sect on the other side would dare to spy. Daoist Bai had clearly underestimated the eyes and ears of a Purple Palace-level power, while overestimating his own lineage's ability to keep secrets. The old man could only keep his head down in silence.
Most of the clan's Foundation Establishment cultivators had gone to the riverbank, leaving Li Jiangqian feeling a shortage of Foundation Establishment cultivators on hand, with even fewer from the direct bloodline...
Li Jianglong had now returned from the north and remained in secluded cultivation, having already attained the eighth level of Qi Cultivation. Once he consumed a talisman pill and a Three Completes Realm-Breaking Pill, he would be ready to attempt Foundation Establishment. Li Jiangxia was slightly ahead, but not by much.
As for the others of the Li clan—Fei Qingyi, An Xuantong, and even the newer cohort including Li Zhoufang, Li Zhouyang, and Li Xinghan—they were gradually reaching the late stages of Qi Cultivation. Li Jiangqian made a rough calculation:
*In about ten years, our family will reach a peak in the number of Foundation Establishment cultivators. Having one Foundation Establishment cultivator per peak or manor will be well within reach... We will truly become a colossus like the Xiao clan of old...*
As the two discussed affairs of the north, a cultivator approached from the side and drew a small letter from his sleeve to present. Li Jiangqian read it briefly, an odd expression flitting across his face.
His gaze swept over the torrential rain outside the window. He dismissed Qu Bushi with a wave of his hand, turned back toward the main hall, and dispatched men to fetch Li Xuanxuan and Li Minggong.
The old man arrived swiftly on the wind, moving in haste yet wearing a smile on his face as though he had heard good news. Li Minggong was nowhere to be seen for the moment, likely at a critical juncture in practicing a spell.
The current contest of spells against Duxian Dao was not fought in earnest, and there was plenty of manpower. Cui Jueyin, who presided over the broader situation, understood the secrets behind it all and could handle these affairs, so Li Minggong had been spared from going, affording her more time to cultivate techniques.
Li Xuanxuan took the brief missive from Li Jiangqian to read. As Li Jiangqian poured tea for the elder, he said,
"True Person Qiuhu clashed in the South Sea... She was repelled by the Mohe, and Beidan has been lost..."
Whenever Li Xuanxuan came to the hall, Li Jiangqian would personally pour him tea, always served at just the right temperature. Such was the man's nature—he had a way of putting everyone at ease in his presence. Li Xuanxuan took the tea in silence and offered a smile:
"It is rare to receive word of Xizhi... It is a good thing... A sword immortal clan must have at least one cultivator who walks the path of the sword."
Evidently, the letter had mentioned Li Xizhi drawing his sword. Yet Li Xuanxuan's smile was strained, and Li Jiangqian frowned even deeper. Setting down the teapot, he lowered his voice:
"This matter feels completely amiss from beginning to end. Consider this Lianmin Zhu Zhen... Why seize Shitang so abruptly? Was there any need for Dakonghai Temple to do so? Even granting there might be secrets beyond the comprehension of low-level cultivators like us... would he seize Shitang without harming a single Qingchi cultivator?"
"True Person Qiuhu was stationed unequivocally in the north; could she appear at Shitang in a single breath? Even traversing the Great Void could hardly allow such speed, unless the True Person is possessed of divine wisdom and knew beforehand..."
"Furthermore, after suffering such humiliation, it would hardly be uncharacteristic for Zhu Zhen to strike someone dead..."
Li Xuanxuan had been worrying that Li Xizhi might draw too much attention and bring calamity upon himself, rather than following Li Jiangqian's line of thought. Hearing this, he asked in doubt,
"What do you mean?"
Li Jiangqian said in an inscrutable tone,
"I received word some time ago that Lotus Temple also yielded territory to Chengyun Gate."
When Li Xuanxuan pondered this, it indeed seemed quite similar. Li Jiangqian lowered his voice and said,
"After all, sects at that tier are leaders of the Daoist path... They should not be on such harmonious terms with Buddhist cultivators..."
The old man understood his meaning. Yet whether Qingchi deliberately ceded Beidan in a covert trade, or colluded privately with Dakonghai Temple to orchestrate some scheme, remained difficult to determine.
Li Jiangqian glanced at him and murmured,
"The ones hurting the most are the Lingu clan."
The old man stroked his beard and nodded.
Following Li Jiangqian's reasoning, Ning Wan was holding up Qingchi single-handedly now; yielding Beidan in exchange for assistance was understandable. What was more, what kind of place was Shitang? The Lingu clan had managed it for years, leeching blood from Shitang day after day with Wuzuo insects and Caican wood. There was no way Ning Wan was unaware. There used to be a market capable of reaping profits for Qingchi—or rather, for the Ning and Si families today. But with Yuanxiu dead, that market was bound to collapse sooner or later.
Seeing the old man remain silent, Li Jiangqian added in a low voice,
"True Person Ning should still be in the South Sea."
A man like Li Jiangqian would never make idle guesses; he was hinting to the elder that he had already checked with the Immortal Mirror. Li Xuanxuan said worriedly,
"My only fear is... things might not be peaceful for Zhi'er."
This was precisely what unsettled Li Jiangqian as well. He said softly,
"If one can conceal their strength, who would display it for no reason? Stepping onto center stage rarely brings safety. While it looks as though he receives universal praise, given his status, does he truly lack that bit of acclaim now? Looked at from start to finish, there is no benefit for him; any benefit belongs solely to Qingchi."
The old man answered,
"I do not believe True Person Ning would push Xizhi forward to extract some benefit. She is not a person like Yuanxiu, and the Li clan is not what it once was... Do not forget... he is Zhaojing's elder brother."
*Once one reaches the Purple Palace and forms a destiny divine ability, no matter what kind of person they were... their heart changes.*
Li Jiangqian could only nod silently. Though other thoughts ran through his mind, it was no longer appropriate to say more, so he said,
"In any case, this does not seem like a good thing. True Person Ning holds supreme authority now, and with nothing to taboo his visit to the lake, it would be best for them to meet."
Li Xuanxuan nodded silently and shifted the topic:
"I already know about the matter of Huaihun Hall. Be sure not to act rashly..."
Li Jiangqian chuckled.
"You underestimate me, venerable sir."
Li Xuanxuan said no more, yet worry weighed heavily upon his heart:
*Were it not for Daoist Bai, and fortunate too that our family is not north of the river, otherwise it would have been very difficult to extricate ourselves. Here is the Li clan, ruling a whole territory with strict discipline, controlling many fronts from afar, with deep backing, full of so-called scions of noble blood; and the one running the house is a cunning youth clad in black robes and crimson garments, a golden-eyed noble scion of grand ambitions who stops at nothing... This youth's father is a prodigy among Foundation Establishment cultivators, and above him sits an ancestral True Person whose whereabouts remain unknown...*
*This is exactly how the villains in stage plays are portrayed! If our family were north of the river, we would probably be packing up and migrating overseas right now.*
Saying nothing further, he stepped down to write a letter. Li Jiangqian set down his brush, only to see a young gentleman in red robes entering from outside the hall, holding a folding fan. It was none other than his uncle, Li Zhouming.
Li Jiangqian smiled and said,
"Uncle is in a leisurely mood today, finding time to come to my quarters."
Newlywed though he was, Li Zhouming had lost his usual carefree, dashing demeanor. Instead, his face was filled with bitterness as he shook his head:
"These past few months... I haven't been able to visit a single pleasure barge. I don't know where Shouyu gets such sharp intelligence. Every time, no sooner do I step out than she arrives on my heels. She says nothing at all, just sits down with a smile and watches..."
"Even I broke out in cold sweat, let alone those poor women—kneeling and weeping bitterly has become a routine sight..."
Li Jiangqian was naturally aware of this; Li Zhouming had caused quite a fuss lately. Chuckling to himself, he watched the red-robed man shake his head:
"I thought I could go to Qingchi to catch my breath and enjoy the scenery, but no sooner did I arrive than I was called back, without having seen much of anything..."
He sighed,
"In a season of heavy rain like this, rowing a boat out on the lake to watch the rainfall would normally be the most relaxing thing. But I have no mood for it now. I came here just to take refuge with you."
Li Zhouming disliked mundane chores more than anything, so to be driven into this main hall looking for things to do showed just how cornered he was. Li Jiangqian clicked his tongue and comforted him:
"Aunt is the scion of a renowned lineage, a Foundation Establishment cultivator, and a first-rate figure... Uncle, if you put more heart into it and achieve marital harmony, that would be the best outcome..."
At the mention of this, Li Zhouming turned slightly pale and sighed,
"She is of a direct sect lineage and exceptionally capable... You ought to find something for her to do as well... A dignified Foundation Establishment cultivator tormenting me day in and day out—I simply cannot endure it..."
Li Jiangqian understood at once. Smiling on the inside, he feigned contemplation on his face and thought:
*That makes sense. Such a scion of an immortal sect and wife of a direct descendant of the Purple Palace lineage should hold some official post; otherwise, it would be inappropriate.*
Li Jiangqian had been occupied with countless matters in recent days and had indeed overlooked this. He replied,
"Uncle makes a good point. I recall Aunt cultivates 'Hong Fire.' It just so happens that our clan's qi-gathering department has been re-established, called the 'Fenglu Department.' We shall have to trouble Aunt with it!"
The Li clan possessed a prized treasure for the path of gathering qi called "Cuoxiang," an ancient magical artifact obtained by Li Xuanfeng. Originally belonging to the Sima family, it could store spiritual energy and prevent it from dissipating. Under this arrangement, it would now be entrusted to Xia Shouyu's custody.
Spiritual energy was always limited, and this was by no means an easy job. The person in charge needed not only stature but also shrewdness. Li Jiangqian's arrangement hit the mark perfectly. Li Zhouming did not catch on to all the underlying complexities, merely nodding repeatedly before continuing:
"Thank you so much, Family Head. There is one more matter... Brother Zhoufang's eldest son, Li Jiangzong, has broken through to Qi Cultivation, cultivating True Fire's 'Pheasant Fire Enduring Progression Method.' Eldest Brother treasures him dearly and hopes he can serve at Aunt Minggong's side. Could you please put in a few good words for him when the time comes..."
Li Zhoufang had the most flourishing offspring. First was Li Queyi cultivating in Ziyan, and now Li Jiangzong had been added, each showing great promise. The Yuandu branch also had Li Xinghan, making it arguably the foremost prominent branch among the eldest lineage!
Li Jiangqian naturally nodded in agreement. Welcoming a new Qi Cultivation cultivator of the direct line into the family was a joyous affair. Although Li Minggong belonged to the Yuanwan branch, she harbored no factional prejudice and would surely be delighted. He smiled and asked,
"How old is this younger brother?"
Li Zhouming snapped open his fan with a swish and smiled.
"Twenty-three years old, slightly younger than Queyi."
Just as the words left his mouth, a figure appeared outside the hall. Li Minggong wore a white skirt, the lantern in her hand unlit—a stark departure from her usual attire.
Only then did Li Jiangqian recall that today was the death anniversary of Li Cheng?. She had evidently gone to pay her respects, which explained why the servant sent to summon her could not rouse her cave dwelling.
When a person departs, tea grows cold. During the death anniversaries of the first two years—the Xiaoxiang and Daxiang rites—there had still been grandeur. Nowadays, few still remembered Li Cheng?. Only the three clansmen eligible to inherit his legacy made a grand fuss every year, organizing memorial rites even more lavishly than for their own ancestors. Whether through false pretenses or genuine sentiment, Li Cheng? had died without offspring, so at least someone saw to his remembrance.
Li Jiangqian was wearing black robes, which was acceptable, but Li Zhouming was still clad in bright red. Li Zhouming was not malicious by nature, but he was reckless and undisciplined; he had barely met Li Cheng? more than a few times and felt nothing even upon seeing his aunt in mourning white, which gave Li Jiangqian a twinge of unease.
Fortunately, Li Minggong was not one to fuss over such matters. She spoke gently:
"I recently mastered the *Miaodai Art Variation*, the congratulatory gift Tujun presented to the True Person back then. This technique aligns remarkably well with my immortal foundation, and the violet fiendish qi atop Mount Zhijing is a wonderful treasure for cultivating this art... Its ceiling is exceptionally high."
"You also cultivate Li Fire, which is even more compatible than my True Fire. You should certainly give it a try; this technique is far from as simple as it appears on the surface."
Tujun Gate's *Miaodai Art Variation* expounded the method of collecting and ingesting Li Fire and earth fiendish qi, allowing one to exhale earthly fire and fiendish mist. Its difficulty was considerable, and having mastered it with the aid of the violet fiendish qi, Li Minggong looked visibly pleased.
If it could delight Li Minggong, who cultivated True Fire, Li Jiangqian—who cultivated Li Fire—would fare even better. His interest piqued, Li Jiangqian nodded repeatedly and sighed,
"Nothing from True Master Junjian is ever lacking... Given his close relationship with our family, what he offered was bound to be superior to what others received... As for the junior in our family, has Your Ladyship had a look at him?"
Li Minggong stepped forward and took a seat, saying,
"I was just about to speak with you on that. I have already gone to see Jiangzong. He is modest and eager to learn. While his temperament as a generous successor can hardly be called extraordinary, it is already better than most."
Hearing this, it was clear that this younger brother was quite promising. Not even his father Li Zhoufang had ever earned such praise, and even Li Zhouluo back then had received only a passing remark of "decent talent." Li Jiangqian lifted his chin slightly, breathing a small sigh of relief as he thought to himself:
*In the Jiang-Que generation, apart from my own younger brothers, someone presentable has finally emerged!*
Only now did he understand why Li Xuanxuan had arrived on the wind with a face full of smiles. The elder cared most about such matters and had likely learned of it early on. Li Jiangqian sighed,
"The lack of promising and flourishing descendants has always weighed heavily on the venerable elder and the seniors. At least having someone of good talent can ease their anxiety and quench their thirst."
In the Zhou-Xing generation, the only one currently distinguishing himself was Li Xinghan. In the Jiang-Que generation, aside from the few golden-eyed offspring, Queyi and Quexi were at Ziyan, leaving only Quewan on the lake; she advanced at godspeed and had no descendants to speak of.
Hearing this, Li Zhouming seemed to catch on thoughtfully. He asked about clan affairs, making no mention of Funan, which had been abandoned, but instead asked,
"I heard there was a bout of fighting on the river, with Duxian Dao cultivators clashing frequently with our family, and that a demonic cultivator was captured and brought back. Which faction does he belong to?"
Li Jiangqian shook his head and answered,
"Bring him up for the seniors to see."
He gave a few quiet orders, and Qu Bushi entered from outside the hall, hauling a youth-like demonic cultivator. The captive's hands were bound tight, his cultivation sealed, his face pale as cold sweat drenched him.
Li Zhouming looked up at him, but the youth was unable to speak. Li Jiangqian said with a beaming smile,
"While our family was trading heavy blows with Duxian Dao, this fellow was peeping from the sidelines. Master Cui's ocular technique is formidable; she plucked him out at first glance."
Holding the letter sent by Cui Jueyin, he scanned it and handed it over to Li Zhouming and Li Minggong, saying softly,
"He was interrogated earlier. He belongs to Huaihun Hall. The Mifan lineage has profound roots, so he can be considered to have some backing."
He turned his head and demanded sternly,
"What is your name! What is your post!"
The youth immediately fell to his knees and replied,
"This humble one... this humble one is a protector under Huaihun Hall, known as Protector Black Rat, one of the seven protectors before the hall. I oversee the taxes on spiritual items in the Funan area and manage a regional storehouse..."
"Our Hall Master did not know what was occurring on the river, so he specifically dispatched me to investigate. It was by no means intentional spying! I beg Your Lordship to see reason! My Lord!"
Li Zhouming did not know the inner details, so his reaction was genuine. He smacked his fan into his palm, clearly displeased, and shook his head:
"Does there truly exist such a so-called favor from a Purple Palace? But he only holds a favor, whereas our family truly possesses a Purple Palace! We cannot simply allow others to bully us as they please..."
Li Jiangqian sighed deeply,
"There is much Uncle does not know. This Mifan lineage is no simple affair; the Purple Palace power behind it boasts deep origins, tracing back even to a True Monarch... Our clan had no choice but to yield!"
Li Zhouming was startled, gaining a clearer understanding of why Funan had been surrendered. Hurriedly rising to his feet, he whispered,
"What should we do then! Perhaps we should release him..."
"Not so..."
Without making the slightest attempt to hide it from the kneeling demonic cultivator, Li Jiangqian's gaze swept ever so lightly over his uncle. Changing what he had originally intended to say, he gave an angry laugh:
"Still, they cannot bully our family like this. I intend to execute him, to teach the other bank a lesson."
As soon as the words left his mouth, a wave of unease surged. Li Zhouming leapt to his feet in alarm and dread, exclaiming,
"You cannot kill him! Since a True Monarch is involved..."
Qu Bushi stood stunned at the side as well, hastily pleading,
"My Lord, I fear he cannot be killed..."
Even Li Minggong frowned slightly, clearly disagreeing in her heart. Yet, mindful of his dignity as Family Head, she kept silent; had he insisted on his course, she would most likely have spoken up.
Li Jiangqian looked around with great amusement. Letting his feigned fury ease slightly, he said in pretended outrage,
"He is the one who obtained the token, but he might not be the one who inherits the lineage! Just because he got a token, are we all supposed to revere him like a god?"
The two men urged him again, pleading and reasoning for a good while before Li Jiangqian finally relented:
"Though we cannot kill him, we cannot let him come and go as he pleases either. Take him down and let him suffer some hardship first."
Li Zhouming let out a long breath of relief. Before Li Jiangqian could change his mind, he hurried Qu Bushi to lead the captive away. Li Jiangqian raised an eyebrow, taking in the entire scene, and understood in his heart:
*Protector Black Rat... is an important figure. Good, very good.*
Qu Bushi had not yet stepped down, instead asking for instructions:
"Where should he be detained, My Lord?"
An idea immediately sprang to Li Jiangqian's mind—the Xiaoyuan Glazed Pagoda on the lake ought to be put to use.
The Xiaoyuan Glazed Pagoda was an exceptionally valuable artifact delivered by Li Xizhi years ago and kept at Qingdu. It was meant to be a magical artifact for tempering juniors and punishing disciples, yet hardly anyone had used it over the years...
First, when it arrived, Li Jiangqian had just exited secluded cultivation to reorganize clan affairs, keeping the entire Li clan exceedingly busy, so naturally no one took the time to sort it out.
Second... its power was simply too excessive. Never mind the Li clan's younger disciples; even Chen Yang had entered the artifact once and emerged scorched and disheveled. After pushing through the Taihe Fire, the Shangjia Wind in the middle was pitifully weak, but the Qiuwang Water at the end was overwhelmingly powerful.
Among all the cultivators in the Li clan, only Cui Jueyin and Ding Weizeng could complete a full traversal.
Yet the benefits reaped were not that great. By the time cultivators of Cui Jueyin's and Ding Weizeng's caliber entered, effects like refining true essence and clarifying divine sense were of little consequence, whereas Qi Cultivation cultivators entering could not possibly endure the Taihe Fire.
*It is an ancient artifact after all. Once spiritual fruits and cosmic positions shifted, everything changed with them, making it unwieldy. The only redeeming quality is that the artifact has safety controls; unless the Beigong Lightning at the very pinnacle is triggered, it will never endanger a life no matter what. No wonder it was described as being used to punish disciples—that truly is its best use.*
He said coldly,
"This fellow is frail as a reed. Throw him into the Shangjia Wind and let him suffer!"
The Xiaoyuan Glazed Pagoda would not take a life, but it would inflict continuous torment, enough to leave an indelible impression on the man's mind. Qu Bushi dragged him away, and only then did Li Zhouming return to his seat to discuss a few clan matters with Li Jiangqian before taking his leave.
Li Jiangqian sat quietly in the seat of honor, a faint chill settling in his heart:
*It has already begun... Black Rat's capture was not without cause; no wonder it seemed so careless... Next, it remains to be seen whether Huaihun Hall tries to get him back. If they truly send someone to retrieve him, he must play no small part.*
One had to realize that there were only six years left until the True Monarch's descent into the world. It was impossible for the descent to occur through an infant; rather, it would be possession of a candidate who had long harbored a premonition, or perhaps a reincarnated form had existed early on, with destiny awakening only recently... In that case, there would likely be no strange omens.
*He has been captive for some time now; word from the north should arrive soon.*
Li Minggong had watched the entire exchange without uttering a word. Seeing Li Jiangqian deep in thought, she frowned and spoke up:
"From what I heard of his description, he ought to be exceptionally important to Huaihun Hall. They will likely send someone to ransom him."
Li Jiangqian sighed faintly in his heart. Sensing that Li Minggong also harbored suspicions, he chose not to elaborate and simply replied,
"I had best go see for myself."
The woman departed on flames. Li Jiangqian read through clan scrolls while waiting, but after a while, feeling restless and unable to tell which thoughts in his mind truly originated from himself, he walked out to lean against the corridor railing once more and sighed, gazing into the distance at the relentless rain across Jiangbei.
"Torrential rain... The blood of the various aristocratic families and Huaihun Hall... would do best not to splatter upon our clan."
Chapter 868