Chapter 176: Samoli's Concern

Li Yuanxiu wiped the demon beast blood from his hands and slowly descended from the altar. His uncle, Li Xuanfeng, had already asked Li Yuanjiao and a few others, confirmed that no one had been formally initiated, and had departed, riding the wind, leaving the younger generation to handle the aftermath.

Li Xuanling, having completed the sacrifice, had already taken the *lu* pill and gone into secluded cultivation on the mountain. He had been at the fifth layer of embryonic breath for several years. Since the *lu* pill could only be taken once per major cultivation realm, he intended to use its power to break through to the sixth layer of embryonic breath, thus utilizing this precious resource.

Touching the jade bottle in his embrace, Li Yuanxiu knew it contained a wisp of chaotic energy. Chen Donghe had been collecting it for two years, and after Li Xuanfeng emerged from his seclusion, he and Chen Donghe had diligently completed its collection over the past few months. This was precisely what they had prepared for Shamori.

He glanced at Li Yuanjiao, who was walking with his head down, and handed him the jade bottle. He softly said, "The chaotic energy at home is ready. Go up the mountain and request the *Purple Thunder Secret Origin Art*. Modify its beginning and end, then take it for Shamori to practice Qi."

"Alright," Li Yuanjiao replied. Perhaps a little downcast because he hadn't been initiated, he nodded slightly, placed the jade bottle into his robe, and whispered, "Why was no one initiated this year? In the past, it happened every time. Is it because we, the younger generation, are far inferior to our fathers' generation…?"

"Ah…" Li Yuanxiu smiled slightly upon hearing his words, patted his head, and replied, "Don't overthink it. If not this time, there's always next. We're only in our teens; there's no need to rush. Look at Qinghong; she wasn't initiated either, yet she's still happy, coming down with her spear and a big grin, isn't she?"

"She's just carefree!" Li Yuanjiao couldn't help but laugh as he thought of Li Qinghong's cheerful demeanor, and his mood brightened considerably. Unexpectedly, he felt a slap on his backside, making him stumble. He angrily turned around to see Li Qinghong pouting at him, holding a wooden spear, a cold smile playing on her pretty lips. She said in a clear voice, "I heard Brother Jiao talking bad about me from afar!"

"Hmph." Li Qinghong was highly favored by the elders in the family, and Li Yuanjiao, fearing she would complain, decided not to argue with her. He grumbled as he turned back, only to see Li Yuanyun stifling a laugh, looking at him with great amusement.

"Brother Yun! What's so funny about this?" Li Yuanxiu finally couldn't hold back a chuckle upon hearing his exasperated words. He bent down, picked up Li Yuanyun and Li Qinghong, one in each arm, and said gently, "I find it funny too."

"Brother!" Li Yuanjiao himself was amused, and he bent over, laughing for a moment. Then, remembering something serious, he put away his childish demeanor and said earnestly, "I've heard that absorbing chaotic energy is much easier than pure spiritual energy from heaven and earth. It probably won't be long before you, brother, will need to mobilize troops and prepare."

"Naturally," Li Yuanxiu nodded, smiling. "Our standing army now numbers over five thousand. With just one command from us, we can raise more than ten thousand troops. If our uncle can deal with the mountain Yue Qi practitioners, it won't take three days before the entire East Mountain Yue is under our control."

Li Yuanyun, who had been studying for a few years, couldn't help but feel excited, as if witnessing history. Li Yuanjiao nodded upon hearing this. As they walked down the street with Li Yuanxiu, watching the clan soldiers move aside for them, a slight smile played on his lips.

"Brother Shamori, I've brought what you asked for." Li Yuanjiao held a jade slip in his hand and knocked on the stone door. A moment later, the stone door rumbled open, and a disheveled, bearded Shamori walked out. Seeing Li Yuanjiao, his expression was filled with anticipation. He stammered, "Brother, did… did you manage to get the cultivation method and the spiritual energy?"

"Indeed," Li Yuanjiao affirmed. Seeing that Shamori's cultivation had improved, he knew his efforts hadn't been in vain. Shamori was overjoyed. He took the jade slip and jade bottle from Li Yuanjiao, thanking him profusely.

Patting Shamori's shoulder, Li Yuanjiao took out two more jade bottles from his robe and softly explained, "I also obtained two elixirs for you. One is called the Serpent Core Pill, used for breaking through to Qi cultivation."

Shamori took the jade bottle handed to him. His spiritual sense entered it, and indeed, he found a perfectly round, pale white elixir. Li Yuanjiao continued, "The second one is an elixir unique to our eastern people, called the Moon Essence Pill. Take it immediately to break through to the sixth layer of embryonic breath."

What Li Yuanjiao had brought was naturally the *lu* pill, but fearing Shamori might cause trouble by revealing its true name, he had invented a name and handed it to him. Shamori took it and saw a gleaming white elixir, covered in intricate patterns. It felt even more precious than the Serpent Core Pill. He hastily said, "This… this is too valuable! How can Shamori accept this… always troubling you, brother, with matters in the east, and now receiving such a great favor!"

"Alright, let's not waste any more time!" Li Yuanjiao didn't bother with further pleasantries. He reminded Shamori and then guided him in taking the Profound Scenery Spirit Oath, swearing not to reveal anything related to the elixirs or cultivation methods. Only then did he cup his hand in salute, turn, and leave the courtyard.

Shamori politely saw him off, then turned back, his heart surging with emotion, and cheerfully entered the secret chamber. He sat down on the floor, carefully placing the jade slip on his left and the jade bottle on his right. He then lay back, staring blankly at the two items on the ground.

Shamori paused, the surging joy in his heart abruptly vanishing, transforming into a horrified feeling of both guilt and fear. This sudden shift made him dizzy and uncomfortable.

He knew very well that opening the coveted jade slip before him and absorbing this freely given spiritual energy from heaven and earth would not only grant him a Qi cultivation lifespan of two hundred years but also make the throne he had yearned for for over twenty years readily within his grasp.

But Shamori also understood that he would lead foreign cavalry to tread upon his homeland's soil. Hundreds of thousands of his people would be enslaved, both physically and spiritually. The East Mountain Yue would henceforth exist only in name, and the entire nation, from the palace to the common people, would be at the mercy of the Easterners. His elder brother, who had surpassed him in every aspect since childhood, would be killed, allowing a mediocre and incompetent person like himself to rule the East Mountain Yue.

"Is it worth it…? That was Father's life's work…" Shamori seemed to see his stern father standing coldly before him. In that instant, the seemingly within-reach throne and cultivation no longer seemed tempting. Shamori wavered for a moment, then immediately trembled with fear at his own hesitation. Shamori dared not imagine how the Li family would deal with him. The Li family had cultivators at the late Qi cultivation stage; most likely, they were watching him from above right now. Even if he achieved Qi cultivation and tried to escape, he wouldn't get far…

"Father, I'm afraid of death… Who isn't afraid of death? Your son has been most afraid of death his entire life; otherwise, he would have long offered his neck to be slaughtered in the palace. Why would he have fled here to the Easterners…? Your son absolutely does not want to die!"

Shamori slowly closed his eyes, recalling how his father, Mujiaoman, had consolidated his territory in the months following Gani Xi's death, how many despicable methods he had used, how many tribesmen he had killed, and how weakly he had submitted to the Easterners. He gave a tearful sneer, then, as if to embolden himself, he opened his eyes wide in fury and gritted his teeth, saying, "How can it not be? This is all what you taught me, Father…"

Picking up the jade slip from the ground, Shamori sat up and began reading it carefully. He then said coldly, as if trying to convince himself, "Jimu doesn't understand the vast ambition of the Easterners. Ultimately, he will hand the East Mountain Yue over to them. Only I, only I! Father, only I can preserve the East Mountain Yue…"

His gaze grew firmer as he found his justification. All burdens and guilt were cast aside. Shamori lowered his head, biting his lip and wiping away tears as he read the jade slip for a while, gradually becoming engrossed, and his mood stabilized.

***

**Book Recommendation**

*Immortal in the Longevity Pot*

The protagonist is an Earth Immortal, and the main plot revolves around the spirit artifact that is the protagonist. Those interested in stories featuring spirit artifacts might find it appealing.

**Synopsis:**

Transmigrating into a world governed by the Divine Dao, where the Divine Court had only recently swept across the world a few centuries prior.

Lin Xiao, whose sole desire is to cultivate immortality and and avoid entanglement with the Divine Court's intricate schemes, seals himself within the spiritual treasure, the Qiankun Sun-Moon Pot.

Inside the pot, he cultivates a grotto-heaven and refines the sun and moon. Unable to achieve Heavenly Immortality, he strives for Earth Immortality, his spirit merging with the grotto-heaven to embody the world itself.

From time to time, he holds dharma assemblies, hosts grand peach banquets, and casually bestows opportunities and treasures.

Regardless of how many millennia the Divine Court's power endures, he will serenely observe its rise and fall from the comfort of his pot.