Chapter 150: Ling Yanzi

Chen Donghe thanked Li Tongya and was led away by Li Xuanxuan to swear the Profound Scenery Spirit Oath before studying the cultivation methods. Li Xuanling also excused himself to go cultivate.

Li Tongya watched the younger generation depart, set down his teacup, and stood up. He calculated his age, realizing he would soon turn fifty within the next year or two. He still had a little over half the journey to reach Level 7 Qi Cultivation. He couldn't help but let out a bitter laugh:

"Both geniuses and the mediocre are harmed by others. Only I, neither exceptional nor utterly untalented, remain here, toiling in cultivation. The world is transient, and the path is ruthless. I must continue to cultivate diligently!"

With that, he rose into the air and returned to his cave dwelling to resume his cultivation.

Three hundred miles from the Li family's location, in the mountains and forests, a young man in a cloud-patterned robe was fleeing in distress. He wore a jade crown and cultivation robes. In his hand, he wielded a pale purple jade bead, which projected a dazzling purple shield as he sped across the sky.

Behind him, two white-robed Daoists gave chase. Both had long, flowing beards, held magic swords, and rode flying shuttles, staying hot on his heels. Their magical artifacts continuously unleashed bright silver sword beams, striking the brilliant purple shield and producing flashes of colliding magic.

"Lingyanzi, stop fleeing! You're only prolonging your suffering. This area is full of insignificant small families; approaching them would only lead to your demise!"

The two pursuers' escape light firmly suppressed him, preventing him from flying towards the county seat. Looking down at the scattered mortals kneeling below, Lingyanzi felt a wave of despair.

"Where exactly is this Lijing Li Family?"

He hailed from the Purple Mist Sect, one of the Three Sects and Seven Gates, located west of the Blazing Gold Sect. He had come to Mount Dali for an urgent matter, only to unexpectedly encounter these two scoundrels from the Changxiao Sect. They had relentlessly pursued him for three days and three nights, circling the outer perimeter of Mount Dali, chasing him from the southern to the northern foothills.

After much effort, he stumbled upon a family. Lingyanzi, dodging the two pursuers' attacks, shouted for help. The family, a small one residing at the edge of Mushroom Forest Plains, dared not interfere in the conflict between the Three Sects and Seven Gates. They timidly replied:

"Our strength is meager, Senior. Please head west. There is a family there called the Lijing Li Family. They are said to be a family of sword immortals and will surely be able to resolve your predicament."

Enraged, Lingyanzi cursed three times but had no choice but to continue flying west. Now, he was almost over the lake, yet still, there was no sign of the Lijing Li Family.

"May my master protect me… May the legacy of Purple Qi Peak not perish with me…"

"If not for this Purple Mist Spirit Shield, how could I have lasted this long against these two curs from the Changxiao Sect? But now my pills and talismans are running out. If I can't escape soon, I might truly fall here today."

Lingyanzi swallowed his last pill and vigorously circulated his true essence. Before him, large settlements of mortals appeared, and finally, two mountain peaks came into view. He gazed at the brilliant grand formation, agitated, and quickly sped up, shouting:

"I am Lingyanzi, a disciple of the Purple Mist Sect, an ally of the Azure Pond Sect! I am currently being pursued by enemies, I implore the seniors of the Li Family ahead to come to my rescue!"

His voice, amplified by spiritual power, boomed like thunder, startling the townspeople below, who looked up and began whispering among themselves.

Below, Li Xuanxuan urgently knocked on the door of Li Tongya's cave dwelling. Before Li Tongya, frowning, could speak, Lingyanzi's voice resonated once more.

"I am a disciple of the Purple Mist Sect, an ally of the Azure Pond Sect… Seniors of the Li family ahead, please come to my rescue!"

Li Tongya's face immediately darkened. He cursed under his breath:

"How did the entanglements of the Three Sects and Seven Gates end up on my doorstep!"

"Although the Purple Mist Sect is an ally of the Azure Pond Sect… the Azure Pond Sect is no good, having harmed my family deeply on multiple occasions… If I go up and help him, I'll inevitably incur the hatred of the Three Sects and Seven Gates who are pursuing him! But if we don't help, we might offend both the Azure Pond Sect and the Purple Mist Sect at the same time. What kind of situation is this…?"

Only then did Li Tongya contemplate leaving his cave. Above, Lingyanzi, under the frenzied assault of his two pursuers, found it difficult to sustain himself much longer and quickly shouted:

"I've heard the Li family is a family of sword immortals, incredibly powerful. Are you truly unwilling to help? Lingyanzi will certainly offer treasures and cultivation techniques afterward…"

Li Tongya's expression grew even more troubled. He sighed:

"Protected by reputation… but also burdened by reputation! This person has probably sought help from many families along the way, each one 'kicking the ball' until it landed on my Li family's head. Seeing his current dire state, I hope this 'ball' doesn't explode in my Li family's hands."

He cast his gaze around. Li Tongya moved to the edge of the grand formation and extended his spiritual sense, discovering that Lingyanzi had a cultivation of Level 6 Qi Cultivation. The two cultivators wielding magic swords were one at Level 7 Qi Cultivation and the other at Level 6 Qi Cultivation. Their true essence surged, indicating they would be difficult to deal with.

"I am Yuyunzi of the Changxiao Sect! Don't you dare meddle in others' affairs, hehe! If you offend my Changxiao Sect, the Azure Pond Sect cannot always protect you! Who knows when your sect might be exterminated and we'll walk away? Your Azure Pond Sect has always been ruthless and unjust; do you truly think they'll stand up for a small family like yours?"

Lingyanzi was slightly taken aback by these words and quickly cried out:

"Don't listen to their instigations! If I perish here, the Purple Mist Sect will certainly not let it go! They will follow the clues and trace it back here, and you will all suffer the consequences…"

Li Tongya felt a pounding headache from listening. He already had a plan in mind and mused:

"If I act now… I might scare these two away and indeed save Lingyanzi, but afterward, I'll inevitably become a target. If I don't save him, and the Purple Mist Sect investigates, we'll still face trouble… The best and safest option would be to quietly kill these two."

So, he ascended, emerged from the grand formation, and said softly:

"Li Tongya of the Lijing Li Family greets you two!"

Lingyanzi's face initially lit up with joy, but then he saw that Li Tongya was only at Level 6 Qi Cultivation. He said repeatedly:

"Why did they send you out? Where are your family's elders?"

Li Tongya cupped his hands and said apologetically:

"Our Foundation Establishment Ancestor is not currently within the formation, so you have wasted your efforts."

The two Changxiao Sect cultivators burst into laughter upon hearing this. They exchanged glances, thinking to themselves:

"Since the Li family's ancestor isn't here, after we kill Lingyanzi, we can take the opportunity to extort them a bit…"

Lingyanzi's face turned pale. He raised his precious bead and cried out:

"Is the Li family truly so heartless…"

Lingyanzi, at this point, was utterly despairing, all hope lost, and was about to make a desperate last stand. But then, Li Tongya's spiritual voice transmission echoed in his ear, low and humming:

"Senior, please proceed towards the lake first. After circling once, return to the lakeside forest. In a corner of the great lake, follow the mountain terrain inwards. There is a large mountain with a large white banyan tree at its summit. We will be waiting there with our people to ambush these two… This way, my Li family won't incur the enmity of the Changxiao Sect, and you can escape safely. It will be a win-win situation…"

Lingyanzi's heart swelled with joy, but his expression remained unchanged. He shook his head sorrowfully and, riding his flying shuttle, headed towards the lake. The two Changxiao Sect cultivators laughed heartily, nodded at Li Tongya, and likewise rode their flying shuttles in pursuit.

Li Tongya watched them depart, then went back into his cave dwelling and called out a bewildered Li Xuanfeng. He changed his robes, and while explaining the plan, he rose into the air with Li Xuanfeng. After flying for several minutes through the mountains, they landed beneath the large banyan tree.

The fox was sound asleep, then opened one eye to look at him and exclaimed:

"Oh, a junior has arrived!"

Li Tongya cupped his hands and explained his plan. He then instructed Li Xuanfeng to ambush on the opposite mountain peak, took out a spiritual cloth to cover his face, and stood silently beneath the tree, awaiting the arrival of the three.