Chapter 116: Visiting Xiao Yong Ling

Li Xuanfeng flew slowly along the Ancient Li Road for most of the night before finally arriving at Guanyun Peak, the Xiao family's ancestral peak. Guanyun Peak was enveloped in a dense, pale mist, completely obscuring the trees and any people.

Li Xuanfeng lowered his altitude. As he approached the peak, a repulsive force emanated from the air, and someone below shouted, "Brother! No flying on Guanyun Peak!"

Li Xuanfeng promptly landed at the base of the mountain. There, a smiling young man, about seventeen or eighteen years old, clad in a flowing, elegant robe and possessing a striking appearance, looked at him. The young man cupped his hands and asked, "May I ask which family's young master you are, from the western region?"

"I wouldn't dare!" Li Xuanfeng waved his hands dismissively. Noticing the young man's courtesy, he replied, "I am Li Xuanfeng of the Li family from Lijing! I have come to deliver the tribute."

"The Li family of Lijing?" The young man raised an eyebrow and inquired, "Is that the Li family by Moon-gazing Lake? I am Xiao Ruyu of the Xiao family; it's a pleasure to meet you, esteemed guest!"

"Precisely!" Remembering Li Tongya's instructions from before his departure, Li Xuanfeng quickly nodded. He then saw Xiao Ruyu look puzzled and ask, "I wonder if Senior Li Tongya..."

"He is indeed my clan uncle!" Li Xuanfeng chuckled, then continued politely, "Xuanfeng has been sent by my clan uncle to pay respects to Senior Xiao Yongling!"

Xiao Ruyu suddenly understood, nodding with a smile. "I also received Uncle Yongling's instructions to wait here for someone from the Li family! Brother Xuanfeng, please follow me."

After speaking, Xiao Ruyu descended the steps, came down the mountain, smiled at Li Xuanfeng, and then ascended into the air. He, too, was surprisingly a Qi Refining cultivator. The two flew on the wind for a while before landing on another mountain peak.

On the mountaintop, there was a small courtyard with two pots of plum blossoms planted in front of the gate. Xiao Ruyu stepped forward, gently knocked, and respectfully announced, "Clan Uncle! The person from the Li family has arrived!"

The large gate creaked open, and a hearty laugh approached from within. A middle-aged man emerged. He had rather narrow eyes, was draped in a snow-white fox fur coat, and had a brocade pouch tied at his waist. His appearance was still quite handsome. He paused upon seeing the two and asked, "You are..."

"I am Li Xuanfeng of the Li family. My paternal uncle has been preoccupied with important matters these past few days, so I have come to this peak to pay my respects." Li Xuanfeng explained. Xiao Yongling then nodded, saying with some regret, "I am deeply concerned that I cannot see Brother Tongya."

After speaking, he looked at Li Xuanfeng and asked with considerable curiosity, "I wonder what Brother Tongya's current cultivation level is?"

"My paternal uncle has already reached the third level of Qi Refining," Li Xuanfeng replied, following Li Tongya's instructions.

"The third level of Qi Refining?" Xiao Yongling was momentarily stunned, then let out a sound of admiration and exclaimed, "Brother Tongya has kept up; he too has reached the third level of Qi Refining! When I first met him, I sensed he was extraordinary, and it has indeed proven true!"

Leading Li Xuanfeng into the courtyard, Xiao Yongling filled the teacups before both of them. He glanced at Li Xuanfeng and said with a smile, "The younger generation is truly outstanding these days. You appear to be only fifteen or sixteen, yet you've already achieved Qi Refining. That is truly rare; even within my Xiao family, you would be among the top few."

"Senior, you flatter me," Li Xuanfeng replied. After exchanging a few pleasantries and small talk with Xiao Yongling, he then inquired, "My family's grand formation was destroyed by the Shanyue tribe and has not yet been repaired. My family instructed me to find a formation master in the county to set up a new grand formation. I wonder if Senior has any information regarding this..."

"Of course there is," Xiao Yongling nodded and replied. "Formations are quite intricate. Setting up a Qi Refining level formation is rather troublesome; it requires not only engraving the array patterns but also drawing and outlining them, a process that takes several days and nights to complete. If you intend to set up a Qi Refining level magic array, it would cost at least thirty spirit stones. For a top-tier Qi Refining grand formation, capable of defending against cultivators at the peak of Qi Refining, it would likely cost no less than a hundred spirit stones."

Li Xuanfeng nodded upon hearing this and replied, "My family has considered it, and the spirit stones have already been prepared."

"Very well," Xiao Yongling said, taking a sip of tea. He pondered for a few moments, then stated gravely, "I will make some contacts in the next few days and give you a reply then. In any case, there's still over half a month until the tribute is due, so we have ample time."

"Many thanks, Senior!" Li Xuanfeng nodded repeatedly, his joy clearly evident. Xiao Yongling shook his head and smiled, "There's no need for thanks; why be so polite given the relationship between our two families! Your paternal uncle and my clan uncle are fellow disciples, and your family helped us acquire the Suiyuan Pill. Our two families have been on good terms for decades; this small matter is truly nothing."

Li Xuanfeng exchanged a few more polite words. After drinking his tea and listening to Xiao Yongling discuss other topics, he then inquired, "Senior, have you heard... what effects do metal and stone minerals have on mortals?"

"Of course there are!" Xiao Yongling paused for a moment, then explained, "My family governs twenty-two mineral veins, and I once managed affairs there, so I am quite familiar with the subject. Spiritual objects like metal, stone, lightning, fire, and cold yin often harm the vitality of mortals, leading to exceptionally high casualties. If they are Fetal Breath-level spiritual objects, they are manageable with frequent shift rotations. However, spiritual objects at the Qi Refining or even Foundation Establishment levels often cause instant death upon contact and must be personally extracted by cultivators."

"I see! This junior has learned a great deal," Li Xuanfeng said, nodding in sudden realization and thanking him respectfully. Then, Xiao Yongling took out a jade slip and stated solemnly, "Brother Tongya once entrusted me to find a book for him. I have finally found it, so I will give it to you now. Please take it back to the Li family when you return home."

Li Xuanfeng paused slightly, taking the jade slip in his hand. He thought to himself, "I've never heard my paternal uncle mention anything about finding a book... If this were true, how could he have forgotten to tell me? Perhaps the Xiao family has another motive."

"Thank you, Senior Yongling!" Xiao Yongling waved his hand dismissively. Li Xuanfeng then inquired about Li Chijing, but Xiao Yongling shook his head, saying, "There's no news at all. My own clan uncle also went south many years ago and hasn't sent back a single family letter, which is quite strange."

Li Xuanfeng felt a little uneasy, but Xiao Yongling kindly suggested, "The scenery and customs in the county are quite different from the west. There's still over half a month until the tribute is due, so you might want to take a look around."

Li Xuanfeng knew he was being dismissed. He cupped his hands and took his leave. After exiting the courtyard, he extended his spiritual sense into the jade slip. He saw eight large characters as the title: "Two Hundred Years of Scenery and Customs in Linghai Commandery." Feeling immediately bewildered, he could only put away the jade slip for now. He then bid farewell to Xiao Ruyu and continued flying eastward on the wind.

After Li Xuanfeng left the courtyard, Xiao Yongling silently put away the teapot and sighed, "A fifteen-year-old Qi Refining cultivator. This Li family certainly knows how to raise talented individuals."

"Clan Uncle has good foresight," Xiao Ruyu, standing nearby, complimented. Xiao Yongling, however, shook his head and said gravely, "Back then, it was the Old Ancestor who personally summoned Li Tongya, gifted him elixirs, and instructed me to befriend Li Tongya and maintain a good relationship with the Li family."

"The Old Ancestor's vision is far-reaching, beyond what we can comprehend. And now..." He suddenly stopped speaking, chuckled softly, and murmured to himself, "With the Old Ancestor and Uncle Yuansi here, it's enough to ensure my family's peace for eight hundred years."

They exchanged glances with Xiao Ruyu, both with smiles in their eyes. Xiao Yongling sighed, his expression somewhat complex, and said in a low voice, "Only someone like the Old Ancestor could break free from the layered blockade of the Qingchi Sect. It was through caution, tranquility, and avoiding both pride and impetuosity that he managed to preserve our family's legacy. Back then, Yu Yuxie was incredibly prominent, his talent even alarming a Purple Mansion Old Ancestor, yet he ultimately met his end in the Southern Border."

After speaking, he looked at Xiao Ruyu and said earnestly, "Ruyu, this is why the Old Ancestor wants you to diligently refine your cultivation and not break through within the next five years. In this world, the most talented and the most foolish often meet the most tragic ends."