Chapter 195: 恩仇

The Land of the Shanyue.

The Shanyue people inhabited the Wuyue region, maintaining their unique customs. Their scattered population exceeded ten million, with over a million in the northern range of Mount Li, who were under the protection of Duanmu Kui. With Duanmu Kui's death, his Wushan disciples either fled to distant lands or joined various other sects. The region was subsequently divided among Duanmu Kui's four disciples, each of whom brutalized the populace and constructed palaces, leading to widespread chaos.

Deeper into the northern range, a deep cave was visible in the forest. Inside, a giant beast lay prostrate, its fangs menacing and its body covered in pale yellow scales. Its two brown eyes, the size of human heads, stared blankly into the air, devoid of life.

“Finally, we’ve slain this beast.”

Xiao Chuchou let out a long breath, took the elixir from Xiao Yuansi, and ingested it using qi circulation. His body immediately relaxed, and he felt much more comfortable. He sighed softly and chuckled:

“My lifespan is limited, and my qi is weak. Not only is my cultivation slow, but I’m also clumsy in fights. To think, back then I leaped across the Great River in the north and traversed the lands of Jin and Zhao with such youthful vigor. In the blink of an eye, I’ve become an old man.”

Xiao Yuansi looked at him with concern, hesitated for a moment, then finally gritted his teeth and whispered:

“Ancestor… the blood sacrifice longevity art passed down in our sect… would you consider trying it? It could extend your life by several years and make you feel much better.”

Xiao Chuchou sneered and replied:

“No need. Back then, my father fought against Chi Wei and was consumed by his blood sacrifice art. I swore an oath as a youth that I would never reconcile with the path of sacrifice in this life.”

“Chi Wei… he truly is a demonic disciple.”

Xiao Yuansi muttered with hatred, his usual gentle demeanor completely transformed, which startled Xiao Chuchou. He then hesitated before speaking:

“I know you hate him, but this is no longer a time for conflicts between immortals and demons. Good and evil are muddled… Chi Wei is a scoundrel, but he cannot be called a demonic disciple.”

“What good is there in him!”

Xiao Yuansi cried out indignantly, but to his surprise, Xiao Chuchou’s expression turned complex as he whispered:

“More than 150 years ago, I was still a minor cultivation realm practitioner. When the Demon King of Southern Xinjiang invaded, hundreds of thousands of people were on the verge of becoming blood sacrifices. The Three Sects and Seven Gates profited from the situation and merely stood by. Only Chi Wei and a few others, who had just advanced to the Violet Mansion realm, intervened to stop it, even risking their own lives to force the patriarchs of sects like the Azure Pool Sect to act, ultimately averting disaster. He lost lifespan and damaged his foundation in that battle; otherwise, he wouldn’t have waited until now to attempt a breakthrough to the Golden Core stage…”

“Ultimately, he saved the lives of my Xiao family and even a significant portion of Yue State.”

“What!”

Xiao Yuansi had only heard about the demon uprising over a century ago but wasn’t clear on the details. Hearing this struck him like lightning; his mind went blank, and he cried out, both shocked and furious:

“How is that possible?!”

Xiao Chuchou followed him deeper into the cave, sighing as he spoke in a low voice:

“Everyone has a time in their youth when they’re full of spirit, when they dream of turning the tide and saving common people. Who hasn’t had such a dream? But what happens when you’re stuck before a cultivation bottleneck for decades, making no progress despite cultivating day and night, becoming obsessed, and seeing a century of cultivation about to turn to dust? Your enemies surround you, eyeing your disciples, waiting to slaughter them after you die. And you know you could break through just by killing a few people. Do you kill or not?”

Xiao Chuchou’s eyes were complex, and his aged face twisted in pain. Looking at the distraught Xiao Yuansi, he whispered:

“If you kill, you protect your own and keep your loved ones safe. If you don’t, you cannot protect yourself, and your kin will be slaughtered. How many people can bear that? Killing one person is still killing, and killing ten thousand is also killing. Once an evil thought arises, it’s unstoppable. Chi Wei did consume your junior martial brother, but frankly, one can’t really speak of good and evil with him. If you want to be precise, he consumed a few talented disciples, yet he saved millions in Yue State.”

“Moreover, with Chi Wei’s death, the Azure Pool Sect will be on the verge of collapse. Your junior martial brother’s family of origin can just pack up and go home. Who cares who rules from above? But disaster would surely befall the Chi family then…”

As Xiao Chuchou continued speaking, Xiao Yuansi finally couldn’t hold back. He looked up, distraught, and said in a low voice:

“Ancestor, how can the world be like this? If everyone is a jumble of good and evil, half-human and half-demon, where in the world can one find a firm footing?”

Xiao Chuchou nodded approvingly and whispered:

“Under the illumination of this Golden Crow, immortals are inherently half-human and half-demon. How can there be any purity? Since the conflict between immortals and demons, the world no longer judges people by good and evil, but only by gratitude and grievances…”

Xiao Yuansi remained silent for a few breaths, then exhaled deeply, still struggling to calm himself. He had entered Qinghui Peak at a young age, where Siyuan Bai taught him the distinction between good and evil. Yet, Chi Wei had inverted those distinctions, and now Xiao Chuchou’s words had shattered them entirely. For a moment, his emotions surged, and the divine light of the Immortal Foundation Crimson Dan Ginseng within his body radiated outwards, showing subtle signs of progress.

“Only gratitude and grievances…”

As they chatted, they finally reached the spacious cave, which was pitch-black without a single ray of light. Foundation Establishment cultivators would naturally not be hindered by such darkness. Xiao Yuansi took a glance and saw a large, glowing yellow flower blooming deep within, its cluster of stamens curled, with a drop of dew hanging from it, exuding a fragrant scent.

“It’s a precious medicinal herb, the Nine-Petal Spirit Lily.”

Xiao Chuchou was still trying to identify it, but Xiao Yuansi, having immersed himself in alchemy for many years, recognized the flower at a glance. Xiao Chuchou nodded in sudden realization and chuckled:

“We gained nothing from several ruins, but finding this precious herb means our trip wasn’t in vain.”

For cultivators who have reached the Foundation Establishment or Violet Mansion realm, ordinary spiritual items are no longer effective. Only precious herbs infused with the essence of heaven and earth can yield miraculous results, which is why both were quite satisfied. Xiao Yuansi flicked his sleeve, and spiritual energy surged in his hand, though without the usual magical glow.

“Ancestor, be careful. This item is sensitive to light.”

Xiao Yuansi took out a specially crafted spiritual herb pouch and collected the item. Xiao Chuchou looked at the series of herb pouches draped over him and chuckled:

“You’re always prepared.”

Spiritual herb pouches and essence-collecting bottles contain their own spatial dimensions and cannot be stored within regular storage bags, which was why Xiao Yuansi was cumbersome carrying so many pouches. Hearing this, he gave a wry smile. After collecting the Nine-Petal Spirit Lily, the two exited the cave and began dealing with the demonic beast on the ground.

Xiao Chuchou cast several spirit-sealing spells and then spoke again:

“Given the current situation of my Xiao family, the Li family at Moon Lake could be a breakthrough point, guarding our western flank. After all, Moon Lake, backed by Mount Dali, is an excellent location. Even with Chi Wei’s death, the Azure Pool Sect is unlikely to abandon Moon Lake. Given the relationship between our two families, using the Li family as a barrier would be most suitable.”

Xiao Yuansi, casting spells with his head bowed, nodded and replied:

“I’ve heard that Yong Ling’s relationship with Li Tongya is quite good, and Ruyu and Li Xuanfeng also have some ties. That’s certainly beneficial.”

Xiao Yuansi had promised Li Chijing to look after the Li family, and seeing that Xiao Chuchou and the other ancestors had no plans for westward expansion, he felt a sense of relief. Then he heard Xiao Chuchou say in a low voice:

“That ancestor of the Li family, Li Mutian, who could rise from a mere farmer to a rogue cultivator and eventually reach Foundation Establishment, must have possessed exceptional character in every regard. The children he raised would naturally be outstanding.”

“Although Li Tongya’s talent isn’t high, his character is excellent. Li Chijing must have inherited his sword cultivation talent… However, I’ve never heard of a figure named Li Mutian. He probably wasn’t well-known in Yue State.”

Xiao Chuchou was pondering when he suddenly frowned and asked:

“Did all four of Li Mutian’s sons possess spiritual apertures?”

Xiao Yuansi, unaware of his thoughts, pondered for a moment and replied:

“The eldest son died young; the other three all possessed spiritual apertures.”

“Oh?”

Xiao Chuchou raised an eyebrow, the wrinkles on his old face scrunching together, and he continued:

“What about the Xuan generation?”

Xiao Yuansi recalled for a moment, then said with some uncertainty:

“There are three sons and one daughter; all three sons possess spiritual apertures.”

Xiao Chuchou lifted the spiritual beast by its tail, flipped the corpse over, and placed it into his storage bag, then said:

“Next is the Yuan generation, correct?”

“That’s right.”

Xiao Yuansi nodded and replied:

“I’m not too clear about the Yuan generation; there should be more people, but I only know of about three who possess spiritual apertures.”

Only then did Xiao Chuchou nod, finding it somewhat more normal. He waved his hand and said solemnly:

“Li Mutian is by no means simple. It’s highly probable he ingested some unique heavenly or earthly treasure. The Li family’s bloodline doesn’t seem like it was left by a mere Foundation Establishment cultivator; even Violet Mansion cultivators might not achieve such a lineage!”

“Oh?!”

Xiao Yuansi had never considered this perspective and was greatly surprised. His ancestor was very knowledgeable; back when the Xiao family declined, his ancestor was at the peak of the Qi Condensation realm. He had given the family’s precious herbs and Suiyuan Pills to Xiao Chuting, and then gone out himself to seek opportunities, thus gaining much knowledge. Xiao Yuansi recalled the actions of Li Tongya and Li Xiangping from back then, nodded thoughtfully, and replied:

“Indeed, it’s not simple.”

The two rose into the air, riding the wind towards the Li family’s direction. Xiao Chuchou suddenly chuckled and said softly:

“I have an idea. Since the Li family’s bloodline is exceptional, my Xiao family could try to form a marriage alliance with them. On one hand, it would solidify the relationship between our two families. On the other hand, a prodigy might emerge. If the Li family can unite Moon Lake, my family would not only use them as a barrier but also form an alliance, becoming as interdependent as lips and teeth.”

Xiao Yuansi nodded, smiled gently, and replied:

“Ancestor, are you suggesting something like the Ning family and Chi family of the Azure Pool Sect in the past, where their cultivation arts complemented each other, and they leaned on each other to control Azure Pool…”

“Not necessarily that close.”

Xiao Chuchou shook his head and replied:

“Interacting between the two families is good, but too close a marriage alliance carries the risk of mutual usurpation. It’s already good enough for us to rely on each other for mutual benefit and to reinforce our ties through master-disciple relationships between the two families.”

“Yes, this junior understands.”

As they chatted, Mount Lijing appeared on the horizon. Lively wisps of smoke rose from the foothills, and the faint golden grand formation shimmered gently in the morning light, like a land of immortals.

Li Tongya picked up the jade boxes on the table, carefully examined each one, then stacked them together, shaking his head with some regret.

“These spiritual items obtained from the Shanyue region are effective even for Qi Condensation cultivators. However, without a pill formula or the pills themselves, directly consuming them would not only greatly reduce their efficacy but also cause harm, making future breakthroughs even more difficult.”

Spiritual items possess various effects, but also contain impurities and negative side effects. Alchemy, then, involves harmonizing multiple spiritual items to refine pills, minimizing adverse effects and maximizing their benefits.

Handing the jade boxes to Li Xuanxuan, Li Tongya suddenly remembered something and inquired:

“Does Qiuyang still lack the confidence to break through?”

Li Xuanxuan nodded, also somewhat puzzled, and replied:

“I asked Qiuyang, and indeed he’s still a bit short, which really shouldn’t be the case. Logically, Qiuyang’s talent back then was no less than Donghe’s, so he shouldn’t have fallen to this point.”

Li Tongya pondered for a long time, then finally recalled something from his long-buried memories, suddenly enlightened, and said softly:

“Do you still remember the Serpent Dragon Treasure Tree at home?”

“Of course, I remember.”

Li Xuanxuan nodded. The Serpent Dragon Treasure Tree could be said to be the most precious item of the Li family, besides the Dharma Mirror and the Azure Ruler Sword. Every five years, it would bear a Serpent Dragon Fruit, which they entrusted to Xiao Yuansi to refine into an elixir. Several members of the family had relied on the power of this Serpent Origin Elixir to break through to the Qi Condensation realm.

Li Tongya shook his head, recounted the old story, and said gently:

“The discovery of this treasure tree was Qiuyang’s doing. That child has good fortune about him. When he was young, he quietly entered the mountains and accidentally ate a Serpent Dragon Fruit. Fortunately, the Serpent Dragon Fruit is mild in nature. He was unconscious for a few days, but afterward, his cultivation progressed with half the effort and twice the result. He formed his Profound Scenery Wheel in just one year.”

Li Xuanxuan listened carefully to these old tales. Li Tongya sighed and continued:

“At the time, we all thought it was the child’s good fortune. We never considered that fortune and disaster often come hand in hand. Qiuyang’s cultivation indeed became faster, but carelessly consuming a spiritual fruit without proper cultivation ultimately left him with a hidden problem, causing him to be stuck at the peak of the Embryonic Breath realm with no further progress.”

Li Xuanxuan realized, nodded, and Li Tongya picked up the teacup from the table, whispering:

“Among all our mountains, Mount Huaqian’s spiritual spring has the densest spiritual energy. Go tell him the full story, and then send him to Mount Huaqian to cultivate.”

“Yes!”

Li Xuanxuan respectfully assented, but then suddenly looked up. He saw the grand formation hum, and an aged voice transmitted through it.

“Xiao Chuchou of the Xiao family has come to visit. Would young friend Tongya please open the formation?”

Li Tongya quickly opened the formation and rose into the air. He saw Xiao Chuchou and Xiao Yuansi enter with smiles, landing on the mountaintop. Li Tongya cupped his hands and said respectfully:

“Greetings, honored seniors!”

“Young friend Tongya is as courteous as ever.”

Xiao Chuchou chuckled as he followed him into the courtyard, sat down with Xiao Yuansi, took the offered tea, chatted casually for a bit, and then said softly:

“I’ve traveled far and wide, and I have a good understanding of formations. Your family’s grand formation is cleverly conceived; it’s quite something.”

“It was built by Master Liu Changdie.”

Xiao Yuansi raised an eyebrow upon hearing the name and said gently:

“I’ve also met this Liu Changdie; he’s quite interesting. He’s skilled in formations and speaks like an old scholar nearing a hundred years old, but his connections are certainly wide.”

Xiao Chuchou had no interest in this, so he changed the subject, observing Li Tongya for a moment before whispering:

“Young friend Tongya, how confident are you about reaching Foundation Establishment?”

“My cultivation is not yet complete, so I don’t know at this moment.”

Li Tongya had not yet felt the stirrings of forming an immortal foundation, so he could only reply respectfully. Xiao Chuchou nodded and instructed him on some key methods for Foundation Establishment. Li Tongya had largely relied on himself for his cultivation throughout his life, so he was naturally overjoyed to have such an opportunity. He carefully memorized Xiao Chuchou’s words as if they were priceless treasures. Xiao Yuansi listened alongside them, occasionally adding a few remarks.

After listening, Li Tongya repeatedly expressed his gratitude. Xiao Chuchou smiled, waved his hand, then looked at Li Tongya with deep eyes and chuckled:

“Young friend Tongya, you must know a thing or two about my family’s affairs, right?”