Chapter 196: Two People Leave

Xiao Chuchou's words were gentle, yet Li Tongya's heart was startled. His mind raced as he looked at the old man's smiling face and said respectfully, "Our two families have had dealings for so many years; Tongya is quite aware of your esteemed clan's situation. Ancestor Chuting has shown me great care, and I am endlessly grateful."

Xiao Chuchou saw his evasiveness and how he subtly brought up Xiao Chuting. Though he said nothing explicitly, he had indirectly acknowledged it. Xiao Chuchou nodded and said softly, "Then I don't need to say anything more. Our two families rely on each other. In the future, if you achieve Foundation Establishment, send someone to inform my Xiao family. We can then form a marriage alliance to support each other."

Xiao Chuchou's words were direct. Li Tongya had a steady temperament; he was Li Chijing's elder brother and had received guidance and favor from Xiao Chuting in the past. He also maintained a good relationship with Xiao Yongling, with whom he corresponded over the years. It was for these reasons that the Xiao family trusted him.

If Li Tongya achieved Foundation Establishment, the Li family would gain the capital for the Xiao family's support. If he did not achieve it and perished, the relationship between the two families would merely remain as a private friendship between Xiao Yuansi and Li Chijing.

Li Tongya heard clearly and was greatly pleased. Being a pragmatic person, he didn't feel alienated by Xiao Chuchou's words. He mused, "The Xiao family now has Xiao Chuting, a Zifu cultivator, and Xiao Chuchou, who is at the mid-Foundation Establishment stage. They also have three late-Foundation Establishment cultivators and five early-to-mid Foundation Establishment cultivators. They are already the preeminent family among all the clans under the Three Sects and Seven Gates, comparable only to a few families like the Yu family in Linghai Prefecture and the Chen family in Yuyang Prefecture.

"Even if the Xiao family soon breaks away from the Azure Pond Sect to become a Zifu Immortal Clan, they won't be able to arbitrarily interfere with matters on Moonlit Lake by bypassing the Azure Pond Sect. However, they will still be a strong ally. The Xiao family also needs my family to serve as a barrier on Moonlit Lake, facilitating the flow of elixirs and artifacts to the lake. Such a mutually beneficial relationship would naturally be excellent."

Li Tongya then cupped his hands, his expression solemn. He knew full well the Xiao family's intentions. He stated deeply, "I am honored by the Ancestor's high expectations! My Li family will certainly serve as a barrier for your esteemed clan, guarding Moonlit Lake."

"Nonsense!" Xiao Chuchou chuckled, nodding repeatedly. He quickly helped Li Tongya up, taking his hand with a smile. His aged voice filled the courtyard as he gently murmured, "We're just supporting each other, young friend. No need to be so formal."

After a moment of pleasantries, they all sat down again. Xiao Chuchou and the others discussed recent significant events, their conversation becoming increasingly relaxed, with longer pauses. Noticing their inclination to depart, Li Tongya quickly sent a spiritual message. Outside the gate, Li Xuanxuan received the message and slowly walked into the courtyard, presenting four jade boxes.

"This junior has four spiritual items here; I trouble senior to take a look," Li Tongya said softly. Xiao Yuansi set down his teacup. With his excellent mastery of alchemy, he understood everything just by glancing at the jade boxes. He said quietly, "All four of these spiritual items are common among Qi Condensation spiritual materials. Based on the elixirs I can refine, three of them can only serve as auxiliary ingredients, while one is a main ingredient.

"If you trust me, you can sell the auxiliary herbs to my family. As for the main ingredient, I will refine the elixir. We'll split the finished product as usual, and once the elixir is complete, I'll have someone deliver it to your esteemed clan."

Li Tongya, of course, had been waiting for Xiao Yuansi's words. He cupped his hands and said, "Then I shall trouble senior!"

He handed the four jade boxes to Xiao Yuansi, who then explained the uses and values of each of the four spiritual herbs, offering twenty spirit stones as payment for the three auxiliary herbs. After chatting for a while, the two stood up, bid farewell, and headed back to the Xiao family.

The two soared out of the formation, bid farewell to Li Tongya, and flew for some time on the wind. Only then did Xiao Chuchou speak, "Yuansi, Rulian is already nineteen. What do you think about marrying her into the Li family?"

Xiao Yuansi considered for a moment, then replied in a low voice, "I'm afraid that might not be suitable. If we are to form a marriage alliance, she should marry someone from the Li family's Yuan generation. Rulian is of the same generation as the Xuan generation, and all the men of the Li family's Xuan generation already have primary wives. Marrying into the Yuan generation would disrupt the generational order. We probably still need to choose someone from the Gui generation."

Xiao Chuchou nodded and said in a deep voice, "Then let it be Guiluan. Her age is still young; by the time Li Tongya breaks through to Foundation Establishment in a few years, it will be just the right time."

Li Pingyi's mustache was quite thick now; he was in the prime of his youth. He earnestly shook his sleeves and strode into the main courtyard, nodding to his approaching wife. His primary wife then whispered, "Husband, you've come at just the right time. We were just looking for you. Auntie has been waiting for a long time."

Upon hearing this, Li Pingyi quickly entered the courtyard. He saw Li Feiruo sitting gracefully to the side, smiling. She had changed into the plain attire of the eastern people, no longer possessing the dignified luxury she had in the Shanyue lands, appearing much gentler. She said with a smile, "Yi'er, you're truly busy; it's not easy to even see you."

Li Pingyi gave an awkward smile and replied, "Auntie, I've already inquired about the matter you entrusted to me with the Young Family Head."

"Oh?" Li Feiruo immediately perked up, listening intently. Li Pingyi then smiled and said, "Auntie, you are well-versed in Shanyue affairs. The Young Family Head considered it carefully and decided to send you to the westernmost Pear River Pass to oversee the affairs of a town there. Your duties will include engaging in trade with the Shanyue and controlling Shanyue refugees from crossing the border. This is something Auntie excels at. Within three days, you should receive news of your transfer."

"That's excellent," Li Feiruo said, quite pleased. She whispered, "I am grateful for the family's trust and will certainly not disappoint."

Li Feiruo had entered the Shanyue territory in her teens, acting decisively. She had always been a person inclined to manage affairs; she couldn't stand to settle down quietly to be a wife and mother. Now that she had something to do, she eagerly began to ponder the situation.

Li Pingyi chatted with her for a while about various things. Then, a clan soldier rushed up from below and whispered a few words into Li Pingyi's ear.

"My Lord, news has come from the mine. A precious orb was unearthed from the cave. Senior Xu went to the mine and secretly brought it back."

Li Pingyi raised an eyebrow, a hint of pleasant surprise in his expression. Seeing this, Li Feiruo smiled gently and gracefully excused herself. After politely seeing her out of the courtyard, Li Pingyi turned and asked, "Xu Gongming is also a third-layer Fetal Breath cultivator. It's one thing if he can't identify what spiritual item it is, but he can't even discern its approximate grade?"

The clan soldier shook his head and replied, "Senior Xu only said that its aura is vast and definitely not of the Fetal Breath level."

"Where is it?" Li Pingyi asked. The clan soldier replied, "Senior Xu is waiting outside the courtyard, and he has brought the orb with him."

"Good. Follow me to see the Young Family Head."

Li Pingyi led the man out of the courtyard. His side courtyard was built next to the main clan courtyard. After walking a short distance along the bluestone path, they entered the main clan courtyard. Li Pingyi took the wooden box from Xu Gongming's hands, then proceeded alone past the front hall and central hall, through a dimly lit corridor. Li Yuanxiu was seated at the head, meticulously reading a wooden slip.

"Young Family Head," Li Pingyi said, presenting the wooden box with both hands and explaining the entire situation. Li Yuanxiu nodded upon hearing him and said softly, "Bring it here for me to see."

Li Pingyi opened the box and took out a dark, lustrous orb, about the size of a fist. Li Yuanxiu reached out and took it, feeling a slight tingle and a surprising weight in his hand. He examined it for a while but found no clues. He raised an eyebrow and asked, "It's likely a Qi Condensation spiritual item. Uncle Qiuyang and Uncle Donghe have both gone to Huajian Mountain, and I don't know if father and the others are in seclusion..."

"However, a Foundation Establishment senior from the Xiao family visited this morning and only just left. Grand-uncle must not be in seclusion."

Li Yuanxiu held up the orb and said gently, "Later, send this spiritual item to Grand-uncle and ask him to take a look at it."