Chapter 166: The Situation Will Change

Shamori had spent several months in the Eastern lands and only then truly understood what it meant to enjoy life. The veiled, graceful dancers made his eyes almost pop out. A few junior disciples of the Li family took him to watch plays, hunt, taste wine, go shopping, attend cockfights, and watch dog races. Every day was a delightful experience.

“Damn it, those Westerners really are a bunch of fools!”

Shamori now understood why the Shan Yue who returned from the East always looked down on the Westerners. The two sides led entirely different lives. Life in the East was relaxed and carefree. The only thing that gave Shamori a headache was the complex and sensitive political life of the Easterners.

Whenever Shamori opened his mouth, nine times out of ten, his words would make one or two people frown and fall silent, inexplicably offending them. Eventually, he learned his lesson: he would never speak unless absolutely necessary, and simply smiled cheerfully.

“Young Master!”

Shamori came back to his senses. Seeing the person approaching him, he thought for a moment. This person was Li Yuanxiu’s illegitimate brother, whom Shamori considered a collateral branch of the royal family. He quickly responded:

“Greetings, brother!”

The man paused slightly. Accustomed to Shamori’s bluntness, he didn't take offense and chuckled:

“Do you like this dancer?”

“Yes! Of course, I like her!”

Shamori immediately grinned. After spending these days together, he had figured out a pattern: if he said he liked someone, nine times out of ten, she would be sent to his room the next day.

“The only downside is that Easterners have strict rules. It’s not like back home, where you can simply take anyone you fancy. Only these official dancers…”

Shamori sighed regretfully. Just then, the courtyard gate creaked open, and a black-robed young man pushed his way in. Everyone present lowered their heads and remained silent. Shamori’s eyes, however, lit up, and he affectionately called out:

“Brother Jiao!”

Li Yuanjiao entered the room and looked around. The idle wastrels of the family had finally found a use, hitting it off with Shamori and undoubtedly extracting a lot of information from him.

Li Yuanjiao saw Shamori’s flushed and slightly tipsy face, placed a jade box on Shamori’s table, and smiled:

“I just got some spirit fruits, and I immediately thought of you, cousin. So I brought them over!”

Shamori was overjoyed, thinking to himself:

“Li Yuanjiao is indeed the backing of the Li family here. He’s sent things several times in recent months, and everything has been a top-quality spiritual item…”

Shamori thanked him repeatedly. He took the jade box, wondering how many good things this spirit fruit could buy. Li Yuanjiao knew his thoughts perfectly well, as he was aware of everyone Shamori met and everything he said each day. He then spoke earnestly:

“Cousin, do you still remember the great task of reclaiming the throne?”

“Of course, I remember!”

Shamori’s face flushed slightly. He had been having so much fun these past few months that he’d almost forgotten everything else. For the first few days after arriving in town, he had still thought about the throne, subtly reminded by Li Yuanxiu, but recently, he had nearly cast the matter aside.

“Forgive my bluntness, cousin, but if you don’t even have the Qi Cultivation realm, our family might not be able to keep you on the throne even if we put you there… You must be careful!”

These words stunned Shamori, and he shivered. He cursed himself silently, abandoning the thought of reselling the fruits, and gritted his teeth:

“Thank you for the reminder, I’m truly grateful! Since coming to the East, I have already broken through to the fourth layer of Fetal Breath. From now on, I will definitely go into seclusion to cultivate and strive to break through to Qi Cultivation as soon as possible…”

Li Yuanjiao nodded and turned to leave, leaving Shamori in the courtyard gazing longingly at the dancer in the corner. The group below all looked up at him. Shamori coughed, looked in the direction Li Yuanjiao had departed, and said softly:

“Keep dancing. Tonight is the last night… Tomorrow, tomorrow I will begin my cultivation!”

Standing silently to the side, Li Qiuyang, holding his saber, was tasked with protecting Shamori. Being with him day and night, he knew this young man quite well. Looking at Shamori’s expression of pure enjoyment, he sighed slightly and thought to himself:

“The Mulu clan’s bloodline is quite good. This fellow is clearly a profligate wastrel, yet he can cultivate to the fourth layer of Fetal Breath in his early twenties! It’s truly unfair.”

Li Qiuyang touched the white hairs at his temples and calculated the time. He was already forty-five years old, yet he had only just broken through to the fifth layer of Fetal Breath, the Jade Capital Wheel. A wave of sadness washed over him.

“My cultivation speed is getting worse day by day. After sixty, cultivators at the Fetal Breath and Qi Cultivation peaks experience a decline in vital energy. I wonder if I’ll ever break through to Qi Cultivation in this life, to fly with spiritual energy and roam between heaven and earth…”

“I entered the path of immortality at the age of eight and have cherished it deeply, cultivating day and night without daring to slack off. Aside from tasks required by the family, I’ve never dared to waste time, yet I’m destined to die like a mortal after a hundred years. This wastrel, however, enjoys music and revelry day and night, yet Qi Cultivation is within his reach… How terribly unfair!”

Li Qiuyang shrank into the shadows of the corner, his expression appearing increasingly aged. An uncontrollable yearning arose in his heart, and he mused:

“Uncle Tongya watched me grow up from a young age, so he should have a bit of paternal affection for me as a junior. If I were to ask him for a pill, perhaps I’d still have a chance to break through to Qi Cultivation in this life…”

As Li Qiuyang thought, a smile involuntarily formed on his lips, but then he abruptly cut off his own extravagant hope, cursing inwardly:

“Excellent juniors are emerging one after another in the family now. Not to mention Yuanxiu and Yuanjiao, even Qinghong is progressing rapidly. How can precious pills be wasted on an old man like me?”

Li Qiuyang gritted his teeth inwardly, but still suppressed the impulse. He silently stared at Shamori without a word. This middle-aged man had diligently served the family for most of his life, yet in the end, he was unwilling to ask for a single pill from them.

“Hahahahaha, how truly charming!”

Shamori’s laughter echoed in the courtyard. The dim lamplight fell on Li Qiuyang’s white hair. He was out of place amidst the opulent scene in the courtyard, like a stone statue, firmly remembering the tasks assigned by the family, silently watching Shamori.

“Senior, the Xiao family received your letter and asked me to bring back their reply, conveying their thanks on behalf of the Xiao family.”

Chen Donghe knocked on the cave dwelling’s door, respectfully stepped forward, and presented a jade slip with both hands. Li Tongya reached out to take it, and as his spiritual sense entered, Xiao Yuansi’s gentle voice echoed in his mind.

“Yuansi bows his head. Today, I received news from Brother Tongya. The Old Ancestor has already made a trip to the Shan Yue territory. Wushan has been sealed off and cannot attend to other matters. The Shan Yue Purple Palace is preparing to break through to the Golden Core realm, likely within six to seven years. Strange phenomena will surely appear between heaven and earth.”

“Within the sect, Yuansi also received news that the twelve disciples of Wushan are all Foundation Establishment cultivators. They have already colluded with the Three Sects and Seven Gates. Once this Purple Palace cultivator dies, Wushan will immediately perish. The Foundation Establishment cultivators among them will each take their followers to join the Three Sects and Seven Gates, and perhaps three or four will remain in the Shan Yue territory to establish sects and families, becoming families under Qingchi’s rule. If your noble family has any designs, you must seize the opportunity quickly after that person’s demise and intervene swiftly… Once the situation stabilizes, and the Shan Yue Foundation Establishment cultivators have divided their territories and established ties with the sects, it will be difficult to make any further plans.”

Li Tongya finished reading the jade slip, pondered for a moment, and having formed a plan, put the slip away and said to Chen Donghe:

“Tell Xuanling to come up.”

Li Xuanling was already waiting at the cave dwelling’s entrance. Hearing the summons, he entered, and Chen Donghe discreetly withdrew. Li Tongya whispered:

“Read this jade slip.”

Li Xuanling took it and read it. After pondering with his head bowed for a moment, he heard Li Tongya say:

“Wushan is about to cease to exist. Several Foundation Establishment families under Qingchi’s rule will emerge in the west. Our Li family can use this opportunity of turmoil to take control of Eastern Shan Yue.”

Li Xuanling nodded repeatedly. Then he saw Li Tongya say solemnly:

“Currently, we must quickly raise Shamori to the Qi Cultivation realm. While Wushan is sealed, we will pretend it’s an ordinary rebellion and help him ascend to power, secretly controlling Eastern Shan Yue. Once the Shan Yue Purple Palace cultivator dies, we will immediately claim Eastern Shan Yue as our Li family’s territory under the banner of the Qingchi Sect. Those Shan Yue Foundation Establishment cultivators, having just lost their support, will not act rashly.”

“Your son understands.”

Li Xuanling respectfully assented, pondered for a few breaths, and then whispered:

“Once these Foundation Establishment cultivators have divided their territories and become families under Qingchi’s rule, they will know the Sword Immortal’s prestige and certainly won’t come to antagonize our family. They might even try to curry favor, like the Yu family. If handled properly, our Li family could gain the territory of Eastern Shan Yue for free!”

“Precisely.”

Li Tongya nodded and instructed:

“There are still a few years. Take a Snake Essence Pill and make sure to raise Shamori to the Qi Cultivation realm, no matter what!”

Although it would be somewhat difficult to raise Shamori to Qi Cultivation within six years, it wasn’t impossible. After all, he only needed to break through two layers. Unlike normal cultivation, which involves steady, step-by-step advancement, this method focused on force-feeding him spirit stones and spirit fruits, regardless of a weak foundation. Absorbing impure energy was also easier than pure spiritual energy, though it would cause his future cultivation to be slow and prevent him from ever reaching Foundation Establishment.

“Your son will go at once!”

Li Xuanling responded, preparing to leave, but Li Tongya suddenly stopped him and inquired:

“Who is currently watching Shamori?”

“Father, it’s Brother Qiuyang.”

Li Tongya calculated the time and said solemnly:

“Li Qiuyang should be forty-five now, and I hear he just broke through to the fifth layer of Fetal Breath, the Jade Capital Wheel… Shamori is an outsider, after all. Although we are expending these spiritual resources to gain the territory of Eastern Shan Yue, we cannot say so openly. Qiuyang has never asked anything from the family these past years, apart from his allocated spirit rice and spirit stones. Seeing this situation, he might feel resentful… Go and call him up.”

Li Xuanling quickly nodded and withdrew. Before long, the stone door of the cave dwelling was quietly knocked, and Li Qiuyang’s respectful voice came from outside:

“Your junior, Li Qiuyang, greets Uncle Clan Elder!”

“Come in.”

Li Tongya put down the jade slip, glanced at the white hairs at Li Qiuyang’s temples, and said gently:

“In my memory, you were still that little boy on the Spirit Testing Platform. I never imagined decades would pass in the blink of an eye. Now, you have many descendants and have become an elder of senior standing in the family! You have been diligent all these years; I have seen it all.”

Li Qiuyang bowed his head slightly, his eyes moist, feeling a little uneasy. He replied:

“If not for the family, Qiuyang would merely be an old farmer working in the fields now. Qiuyang is grateful for the family’s kindness and dares not be anything less than diligent.”

Li Tongya nodded approvingly. With a flip of his hand, he produced a small brocade pouch and said gently:

“You are now a cultivator of the Jade Capital Wheel, yet you don’t even have a storage bag. This storage bag was one I used in my youth; its capacity isn’t large, but take it for now.”

“I cannot accept!”

Li Qiuyang was startled. This storage bag was worth a dozen or twenty spirit stones, far more than he could ever afford. The stipend he usually received was used for cultivation, and he didn’t even have half a spirit stone on him. He repeatedly said:

“How could I possibly accept this!”

Li Tongya waved his hand, and the brocade pouch was already hanging at Li Qiuyang’s waist. He then patted his own storage bag, took out a small jade bottle, and said softly:

“This is a Snake Essence Pill, refined by the family. Take it and consume it first. If you still cannot break through to Qi Cultivation, come back to me on the mountain.”

Li Qiuyang was stunned, his eyes red. Faced with the temptation of breaking through to Qi Cultivation and gaining an additional hundred years of life, he couldn’t utter a word of refusal. He could only stammer:

“Qiuyang… Qiuyang feels unworthy of this gift!”

“Nonsense!”

Li Tongya’s expression became stern, and he said seriously:

“It’s those juniors who are unworthy! For the past thirty years, you’ve planted spirit rice, guarded the mines, and eliminated demonic beasts. There’s no one in the family who has been more dedicated than you!”

Li Qiuyang immediately burst into tears and repeatedly assented. Li Tongya comforted him gently for a few moments before seeing him out of the cave dwelling.

In Huazhong Mountain, the An family.

An Jingming stopped in front of the tall, ornate main hall. His father, An Zheyin, was feasting in the hall again today. Construction of this grand hall began the day An Zheyin became the family head and was completed on the day An Jingming was born. Beneath its luxurious facade, who knew how many craftsmen’s bones were buried.

“Sigh.”

An Jingming sighed softly, his eyes filled with bewilderment. Everywhere he looked, he saw a scene of joyous extravagance, which instantly made him slightly annoyed. He thought to himself:

“To the north, the Yu family watches like a tiger, and to the south, the Li family is like the rising sun. Even the Ding family, whom our family personally introduced, is ambitious. Yet, there is no sense of crisis in our home; it’s just this extravagant!”

An Jingming angrily took a few steps forward, but then saw several mortals approaching with their heads bowed. They were carrying a large basket together, dripping with fresh blood. All of them looked terrified and dared not look up at him.

“What’s going on!”

An Jingming coldly blocked their path. The men had no choice but to release their grip and kneel. Five or six fingers immediately rolled out of the basket, tumbling on the ground until they stopped at An Jingming’s feet.

“The family head… the family head ate bear paws today…”

An Jingming closed his eyes, already understanding the situation. An Zheyin was not lustful or greedy for money; his only pleasure was gluttony. However, he was also tyrannical and cruel. If a chef’s cooking was unsatisfactory, he would unleash a massacre. If the bear paws weren’t stewed well, he’d chop off the chef’s five fingers. If the pork shoulder wasn’t roasted fragrant enough, he’d cut off the chef’s legs. Cries could be heard from the hall every day on the mountain.

“I understand.”

An Jingming shook his head, powerless. He could scold anyone else in the family, but not his own father.

Taking a few steps forward, An Jingming entered the main hall. An Zheyin was drinking with a cold expression, but when he saw An Jingming, he finally showed a pleasant face and chuckled:

“My gifted son has arrived!”

“Father.”

An Jingming respectfully replied, then spoke:

“Jingming has something to tell Father!”

“What is it?”

An Zheyin frowned, staring absently at the mushy bear paws stewing in the dish. He didn’t expect An Jingming to bow his hands and say gravely:

“The day our family perishes, with you and I, father and son, dead, is already close at hand!”