Chapter 184: The Collaborator

Upon hearing the words “Responding to the Emperor,” a sense of ancient power and dominance swept over them. Li Yuanxiu and Li Tongya both paused. Li Yuanxiu seemed less affected, but Li Tongya, who had seen many immortal foundations, was hearing of one named after an emperor for the first time. He couldn't help but ponder, “The immortal foundation formed by the ‘River of Qi Manual’ is called ‘Vast Sea,’ and the one from the ‘Cave Spring Clarity Manual’ is ‘Sound of the Cave Spring.’ Immortal foundations are closely linked to cultivation techniques, so Ganixi’s technique must also be a path of dominance and strangeness.”

Beside him, Li Yuanxiu showed a look of longing. Hearing the name of this immortal foundation, an uncontrollable desire welled up in his heart. “To cultivate an immortal foundation, to enter and exit the profound darkness, the grace of Foundation Establishment is so alluring. I wonder if I will ever witness a realm beyond Qi Cultivation in this life...”

Three Qi Cultivation practitioners had already emerged from the main branch of the Li family. Li Xuanling was just a step away, and several juniors from Yuanqing’s line generally set their cultivation expectations beyond Qi Cultivation, which is why Li Yuanxiu harbored such thoughts.

Li Tongya then asked Li Feiruo for more detailed information. Li Feiruo answered each question, but Mu Jiaoman had been wary of her during his lifetime and hadn't revealed much, so no further useful information was obtained.

“Alright,” Li Tongya said, finally stopping. He spoke gently to Li Yuanxiu, “This matter has stirred up a lot of attention, and many eyes are on us... we might attract unwanted covetousness. It’s not advisable to stay away from home for too long. I will remain here for a month. Your father and several elders are also in the city, providing similar protection. You and your father should manage the affairs in the Shanyue territory together, and then we will all return to the mountains.”

“As for Feiruo,” Li Tongya glanced at her. Li Feiruo quickly voiced her wishes. Li Tongya nodded, “You’ve worked hard these past years. Assist Xiuer in handling these matters, and then return to Lijing Town together for a peaceful life.”

“Yes!”

Li Yuanxiu and Li Feiruo respectfully assented. Li Tongya then nodded, his form fading as he rode the wind away, taking the brown eye-pill with him. Li Yuanxiu and Li Feiruo were left in the courtyard, exchanging a glance. Li Feiruo made a “please” gesture, and Li Yuanxiu naturally took the seat of honor, saying gently, “Aunt, please enlighten me!”

“It’s my duty.”

Li Feiruo nodded slightly and whispered, “The Eastern Shanyue now has over 226,000 people, with eleven towns and sixty-three villages. There are sixty-two Prenatal Breath cultivators and eight Qi Cultivation practitioners. All are miscellaneous Qi cultivators, not highly effective, but they could be used for planting spirit rice.”

“The Eastern Shanyue nobility consists of six major clans, led by the Mulu clan. Most cultivators come from these clans, and they have hoarded ninety percent of the wealth and spiritual artifacts. The Shanyue people are not skilled in farming, so most of the spirit fields lie fallow.”

Li Yuanxiu nodded and said softly, “The Shanyue land is much more fertile than our Li family’s. The territory is roughly the same size, but the population is much larger. The Shanyue people primarily live by hunting in the mountains and gathering crops. Although they do some farming, they are not very good at it. Once we educate them, this land could support hundreds of thousands more people.”

“My father has already sent people to investigate the spirit fields. They should have a general idea within the next few days.” Li Yuanxiu paused after speaking, and seeing that Li Feiruo had something to say, he stopped and looked at her.

“What Young Master said is correct, but what about the spiritual artifacts currently held by the nobles... how will Young Master handle them?” Li Feiruo asked softly. She had been able to encircle and kill the Great Shaman in the palace solely with the help of these nobles. Since she was now leaving the palace to return to Lijing Town, she had no qualms about betraying these Shanyue nobles, suggesting, “These people are slippery; they won’t obey without a few of them being killed.”

“Indeed,” Li Yuanxiu said gently, pressing his hands on the table. “I have asked Uncle Qiuyang and Uncle Donghe to lead the clan soldiers in house-to-house searches. With spiritual perception, those people will have nowhere to hide. We’ll find an excuse to detain their descendants and use them as leverage to exchange for spiritual artifacts.”

Li Yuanxiu paused slightly and sighed, “I didn’t want to use such a crude method, but with only a month, we can’t afford to waste time. We’ll have to raise the butcher’s knife and use slaughter as a deterrent.”

Shamoli flew over the eleven towns beneath him, placing his subordinates in each one. His mood, which had been dampened by Qimu’s nonsense, improved considerably. He circled with the four Shanyue Qi Cultivation practitioners behind him before descending towards Mulu Town.

“Gone for years in destitution, returned in silken robes...” Shamoli sighed, reciting a couple of lines with the limited literary flair he had learned from the Easterners. Running out of words, he stumbled, unable to articulate further. Suddenly, he turned his head and looked at the ragged clothes of the Shanyue Qi Cultivation practitioners behind him with disdain. “You lot! Tie up your hair! What kind of mess are you wearing?”

The Shanyue Qi Cultivation practitioners were stunned, foolishly asking, “Ragged?” Shamoli sighed softly, took the hand of the one closest to him, patted his shoulder, and explained, “You’ve lived your whole lives in this mud pit, never seeing the prosperity outside. Wait two more years, and you’ll know what’s good and bad.”

As they chatted and descended into the town on the wind, they saw clan soldiers moving through the streets, hurrying in formation with weapons, their cold armor clanging. They weren’t going to the homes of the rich or common folk, but specifically targeting grand households, led by Prenatal Breath or Qi Cultivation practitioners, stepping onto the stone steps and entering.

Soon, angry shouts erupted. The clan soldiers silently dragged out bodies bloated with the wealth of the common people. Unlike the Li clan, which had the Clan Discipline Hall for restraint, the Shanyue nobles were unproductive and fattened like pigs. They were pulled out, screaming and writhing, needing two clan soldiers to lift them, and deposited at the foot of the steps, still shouting, “Do you know who I am? My grand-uncle is a Qi Cultivation practitioner!”

The clan soldier immediately kicked the man, making him roll in pain, unable to speak. The leader, a third-level Prenatal Breath cultivator, stood expressionless, his long saber pointed directly at the man on the ground.

Shamoli’s face changed at the sight, and a feeling of unease settled in him. He stopped a team of clan soldiers and asked gravely, “What are you doing?” The leader, looking serious and seemingly honest, with a meticulous demeanor, held a long saber and replied gravely, “I am Xu Gongming. Greetings, Great King. This is an operation to apprehend individuals from the six great clans who conspired with Qimu’s remnants, acting on Young Master Jiao’s orders. Great King, why are you...?”

“Ah,” Shamoli exclaimed. Hearing that they were searching for Qimu’s remnants, his expression shifted from surprise to joy. His gaze towards the clans turned malicious. He shouted, “Good! My brother Jiao is truly cautious in his actions! Go ahead and do your work, I’ll take responsibility for anything!” With that, he turned his head and coldly stared at the four people behind him. These four Shanyue Qi Cultivation practitioners were from the six great clans, and upon hearing his words, they all guiltily lowered their heads, not daring to meet Shamoli’s gaze.

“Then this humble one shall proceed as ordered!” Xu Gongming responded softly, saluted, and the clan soldiers below immediately sprang into action.