Chapter 129: No-Cost Business

Seeing Mu Yalue in such a state startled Li Jingnian. Realizing she had caused a misunderstanding, she quickly held Li Yuanjiao with one arm and supported Mu Yalue with the other, repeatedly saying, "Madam, you've misunderstood! Madam, you've misunderstood!"

Mu Yalue froze for a moment, then her emotions slightly stabilized. Li Jingnian, being inherently intelligent, quickly handed Li Yuanjiao to Mu Yalue to show her sincere intentions. Supporting Mu Yalue, she apologized, saying, "It was my careless words that caused this misunderstanding, Madam. My elders at home have tasked me with compiling the family history, and the lineage and background of all young masters must be thoroughly investigated. Even if Gani Xi truly belongs to the Mulu clan's main branch, the Li family would never stoop so low as to burden our own junior with his debts!"

Mu Yalue remained skeptical, her deep love for her son making her unwilling to let such a blemish fall upon Yuanjiao. She insisted that Gani Xi was of slave origin and had no connection to the Mulu clan. Li Jingnian had no choice but to shift the conversation, asking polite questions about how she was settling in. After they chatted for a while, Mu Yalue gradually relaxed.

Dismissing her attendants, Li Jingnian gazed at Mu Yalue, whose expression had gradually calmed. After a brief hesitation, she glanced at Mu Yalue's clothes and whispered, "My elder brother is devoted to the family, so it's inevitable that he might overlook some things. If you and your son encounter any difficulties in the future, please send someone up the mountain to find me."

Mu Yalue was momentarily stunned, then quickly nodded and whispered her thanks. After watching Li Jingnian lead her people out of the courtyard, she picked up Li Yuanjiao and went inside. She kissed the child's cheek and mused, "No matter what, I must never admit to any of this. Xuanxuan is stubborn, and if he grows suspicious, it's inevitable he'll harbor ill will toward the child. After all, Gani Xi indirectly caused the death of the previous Li family head, Li Xiangping, and his son, Li Xuanfeng, has high cultivation. I can't risk it."

"Li Jingnian, on the other hand, is kind-hearted; she certainly wouldn't let such rumors spread. As long as this doesn't reach the Grand Madam, this matter will be resolved."

Placing little Yuanjiao on the bed, Mu Yalue watched him with a smile. Gentle moonlight streamed in as she softly prayed for the child, using ancient shamanistic rituals.

Meanwhile, as Li Jingnian left the courtyard, she quietly instructed a family soldier beside her, "Send someone to tell Ah Huila to keep his mouth shut. If these rumors reach the mountain, no one will be able to protect him!"

The soldier immediately acknowledged and departed. Li Jingnian then walked up the mountain along the stone path. Seeing the courtyard brightly lit and hearing voices, she asked the family soldier at the gate, "Who is that?"

"To answer you, Miss, we heard that Master Chen broke through to the Jade Capital today. The family head is quite pleased and kept him in the courtyard to talk."

"Oh?" Li Jingnian nodded, slightly surprised. Chen Donghe was two years younger than Li Xuanxuan, and this breakthrough meant he had reached the fifth level of Fetal Breath. While not comparable to Li Xuanfeng, it was considered excellent among the surrounding families.

Shaking her head, Li Jingnian turned to leave but suddenly stopped. A person stood directly in front of her, completely blocking her path. This person, with a dark longbow slung across his back and a quiver at his waist, was Li Xuanfeng.

"Brother." Li Jingnian's expression was complex as she looked at her older brother. Because Li Xuanfeng had broken through to Qi Refinement, his appearance was even more youthful than hers, making him look more like a younger brother.

After Li Xuanfeng began cultivating at the age of seven, he often lived and trained in the cave dwelling on Meichi Mountain. Later, he spent months hunting demons in the mountains, so the siblings saw each other even less frequently.

"Why do you always avoid me?" Li Xuanfeng frowned, scrutinizing Li Jingnian's expression. He felt something was off. He eyed her warily and said gloomily, "Are you hiding something from me?"

Li Jingnian sighed softly and smiled, "I'm getting married to Donghe in two months."

"What?!" Li Xuanfeng froze, and in an instant, the entire situation became clear in his mind. Only then did he understand why he had never been informed or heard of this. His aura surged, and he exclaimed in alarm, "Are you willing?! Is Brother Xuan using you to win over Chen Donghe?!"

Li Jingnian knew her brother had a fierce temper and might do something terrible, so she quickly laughed and said, "Brother! If I weren't willing, who in the family would dare order me around? Don't overthink this!"

Only then did Li Xuanfeng calm down. He looked at her suspiciously and gritted his teeth, "Really?"

"Really!"

"No matter what, this guy quietly took my sister away. I still need to beat him up to feel better!" With that, he turned and went into the house, immediately followed by a clatter of noises. Li Jingnian chuckled, feeling many of her worries ease considerably as she lightly headed towards the side courtyard.

Lu Sisui flew into the Lijin Mountains on the wind, channeling his magical power into his eyes. He saw a brilliant golden light before him, and his heart trembled. He murmured, "What an ingenious formation."

A wave of envy immediately swept over him. He mused, "This formation must be incredibly valuable, likely using the White Feather Purple Catalpa Banner from back then. But where did Li Tongya find such a skilled formation master? He truly is wealthy and powerful..."

As he circulated his magical power, he sent a voice transmission, "I am Lu Sisui of the Tiaoyun Lu family. I have come to visit Fellow Daoist Li Tongya. Please open the grand formation."

Soon, the grand formation opened a man-sized gap. Lu Sisui passed through the Sun Altar Profound Light Formation, where Li Tongya, dressed in white, was already waiting for him in the mountains.

"Brother Tongya." Lu Sisui cupped his hands. Li Tongya quickly led him into the courtyard, but he was surprised. Looking at Lu Sisui, who seemed like a changed man, he asked with a complex expression, "Senior Lu! How did you come to be in such a state?!"

Lu Sisui's snow-white long hair was no longer smooth and pristine; instead, it showed hints of deathly gray. The wrinkles on his face were deeper, his eyes dull and lifeless, and his left hand occasionally trembled. He wore a bitter smile.

"Life has been tough! Please forgive my appearance, Brother Tongya!"

For the past two years, Lu Sisui had been constantly on the move, finding no peace. He traveled extensively across the Fungi Forest Plain in the east, personally visiting every cultivator he had met even once in his youth, seeking a path for the Lu family. Despite being nearly two hundred years old, he often had to shamelessly fawn over young cultivators who were not even as old as his grandchildren, enduring immense humiliation. In these two years, he had aged faster than in the previous twenty.

"Alas." Li Tongya shook his head, knowing that the man before him likely had only a few years left to live. He sat in the main seat and said gently, "Old Senior, what guidance do you have for me?"

Although sympathetic, Li Tongya had no intention of being lenient. Once Lu Sisui passed away, the Lu family would no longer have any claim to the mine, and Mount Huaqian would most likely fall into the Li family's hands.

"I wouldn't dare, I wouldn't dare!" Lu Sisui quickly waved his hand and replied, "Brother Li, do you remember the Moon-Gazing Lake market?"

"Of course I do!" Moon-Gazing Lake had become ruins after that battle, with the Forbidden Grand Formation still operating on the island in the middle of the lake, making even Foundation Establishment cultivators give it a wide berth. Their families also coveted the spirit-rich land of the island, but they lacked treasures like the Thunder-Smashing Formation Wedge. They were helpless against the Forbidden Grand Formation, which was filled with lightning and fire. Any valuable treasures in the market had already been plundered by those Foundation Establishment cultivators, leaving nothing attractive. So, it was abandoned in the middle of the lake, drawing no attention.

"A few days ago, I passed by the center of the lake and saw a large ship, full of mortals, salvaging items from the island in the middle of the lake!"

"Mortals?" Li Tongya immediately grew suspicious. Lu Sisui dared not keep him in suspense and replied, "Those rogue cultivators went to the county and tricked a group of mortals, promising them wealth and immortal cultivation. They then used large ships to transport them to the island's edge and made them retrieve items from the island."

"This Forbidden Grand Formation sacrificed its stability and integrity for immense power, so it has many flaws. If you throw one or two thousand mortals at it, one will inevitably fall into the formation. That mortal can then retrieve spiritual items from the ruins. Since the Forbidden Grand Formation only blocks outsiders, these items can be openly brought out."

Li Tongya was silent for a moment after hearing this, then asked, "What does Senior mean by this?"

Lu Sisui slapped his thigh and gave an ingratiating smile, replying, "How can we let them get away with this?!"