Chapter 21: Integrating Forces

Li Xiangping watched Si Yuanbai’s flying shuttle disappear into the horizon before he finally got up. He picked up the wooden slip from the table, untied the cloth strip, and unrolled it.

“Azure Origin Wheel Nourishment Technique, First Grade.”

He quickly scanned it. This cultivation technique was for the Fetal Breathing realm. As he read with a frown, he heard Li Tongya give a soft gasp of surprise.

“This breathing technique only requires daily breathing, with no need to refine moonlight essence?”

“Naturally, it can’t compare to that… to our family’s technique,” Li Xiangping quickly corrected himself. He had been about to mention the “Jianzi” but, fearing Si Yuanbai’s return, he changed his words.

“Is that Si Yuanbai truly a peak master of the Azure Pool Sect? Letting Jing’er go with him like that seems a bit rash.” Li Tongya replied with a wry smile:

“What choice did we have? If he were some rogue cultivator, he could have simply abducted him. Why would he bother with us, and even leave behind cultivation techniques and credentials?”

Li Xiangping nodded, picked up the second wooden slip from the table, and unrolled it.

“Heavenly Origin Qi Cultivation Manual, Qi Cultivation stage technique, Second Grade.”

Li Tongya also picked up one and read to himself:

“Lixia Secret Scroll.”

After reading a few more lines, he couldn’t help but beam with joy and said to Li Xiangping: “This secret scroll records a lot of common cultivation knowledge, the distribution of forces in Lixia Commandery, and the marketplaces for rogue cultivators. This is exactly what we urgently need right now.”

Li Xiangping took the wooden slip, glanced at it, and replied thoughtfully: “So, cultivation methods are divided into nine grades, with the first grade being the lowest and the ninth the highest. Techniques, elixirs, and artifacts correspond to cultivation realms. I wonder what grade our family’s technique is.”

Seeing his brother engrossed in the secret scroll, Li Tongya picked up the light-green jade seal Si Yuanbai had left and silently activated his spiritual energy.

“Under Azure Pool’s Governance.”

Immediately, several light-gold characters appeared on the jade seal. These characters then slowly faded, replaced by a bright white character “Li” and a small map.

“Lijing Village, Líchuānkou, Jingyang Village, Lídao Port.” Li Mutian squinted for a moment, recognizing and then reciting the names of these villages one by one. These four villages were precisely those Si Yuanbai had mentioned, stretching from the Ancient Lidao to the foot of Mount Dali.

“With the endorsement of the Azure Pool Immortal Sect, our Li family now has sufficient strength. There’s no need to hide anymore; we can openly cultivate our influence!”

“These villages are ours now, the Li family’s.” Li Xiangping, who had been reading with his head down, suddenly looked up and said calmly: “Starting tomorrow night.”

***

Early in the morning, Chen Erniu saw the Li family’s tenants moving through the village like fish, going from house to house to gather people.

“Aunt Li! Tell your brother Li that after working in the fields tonight, he should go to the back of the village. Uncle Tian has important matters to discuss!”

“Ah! Alright then…”

“Brother Liu! The Li family requests your presence…”

The village was in a commotion, with everyone bursting with curiosity. Finally, as dusk approached, Chen Erniu quickly headed to the back of the village after dinner.

The Li family, being one of the most prominent households in the village, commanded great influence. Chen Erniu looked up and saw that all the major and minor households in the village had gathered. Even Xu Wenshan, the middle-aged leader of the refugees from several years ago, stood respectfully behind Li Xiangping.

“Damn, I’m late,” Chen Erniu muttered under his breath. Xu Wenshan was now also a tenant of the Li family. He was eloquent and knew how to conduct himself, leading a dozen or so refugee households who stuck together. He had subtly replaced Chen Erniu as the head of the tenants, making Chen Erniu grind his teeth in frustration.

He looked around, but Li Mutian was nowhere in sight. Instead, Li Xiangping stepped forward and spoke with a smile: “Apologies for disturbing you all, but I have some good news to share with everyone.”

Seeing everyone listening intently, Li Xiangping continued: “Last night, an immortal from the Azure Pool Immortal Sect passed through this area. Seeing my younger brother Li Chijing’s exceptional talent, he took him to the immortal mountain to cultivate immortal arts.”

These words were like a boulder thrown into a calm lake, shaking everyone present. They exchanged bewildered glances, staring blankly at Li Xiangping as if hearing a fantastical story.

“Congratulations!” It was the scholar, Han Wenxu, who let out a long sigh and congratulated him loudly. Han Wenxu, being from the city, was well-traveled and knowledgeable. Upon hearing Li Xiangping mention the Azure Pool Immortal Sect, he immediately understood that it was almost certainly true. Jing’er most likely possessed spirit apertures and had been taken away by an immortal cultivator from the Azure Pool Sect.

“Everyone has their own destiny,” Han Wenxu sighed softly, then spoke for Li Xiangping: “Chijing’s entry into the Immortal Sect is indeed a blessing for the entire village.”

Han Wenxu had lived in the village for over twenty years, healing the sick and guiding the confused, establishing himself as an authority. Once he spoke, Li Xiangping’s words finally gained some credibility, though most villagers still couldn’t help but whisper among themselves.

Li Xiangping’s expression remained calm. He displayed a jade seal in his hand, and as he activated it with spiritual energy, four shimmering golden characters appeared.

“Under Azure Pool’s Governance.”

“An immortal!” Witnessing this miraculous display, the crowd erupted in an uproar. Many immediately knelt and kowtowed, shouting loudly. Chen Erniu was also startled, gazing upwards with a mix of awe and uncertainty.

Li Xiangping watched as the character “Li” finished appearing, then put away the jade seal. Looking at the crowd below, he announced clearly: “That immortal also bestowed an immortal technique and commanded our Li family to guard Lijing Village, Líchuānkou, Jingyang Village, and Lídao Port.”

As he finished speaking, he gently clenched his palm, and a brilliant golden light emerged. With a flick of his wrist, the golden light shot out with a whoosh, disappearing into the continuous mountain forest with a roar, startling flocks of birds into flight.

The instant this Golden Light spell was cast, people below immediately knelt en masse. Even Liu Linfeng, the head of the Liu family, knelt trembling, staring blankly at him.

“There’s no need for this, everyone. We’re all family and neighbors; Xiangping can’t accept such homage.” Li Xiangping remained unmoved, gazing down at the kneeling crowd, and spoke calmly.

Listening to Li Xiangping’s voice, Chen Erniu pressed his head tightly against the ground. Amidst his shock, his mind was a whirlwind, with only a few words echoing in his head:

“Things are about to change.”

***

Li Tongya slowly walked out of Líchuānkou. Behind him, Li Yesheng held a piece of cloth in one hand and a charcoal pen in the other, scribbling something haphazardly.

“Líchuānkou suffered from a drought over ten years ago and still hasn’t recovered. There are barely over a hundred households; it’s quite pitiful,” Li Tongya said to Li Yesheng, turning his head as they walked.

“Brother, we’ve dealt with the major households in Líchuānkou and redistributed the land. The villagers no longer have rent to pay, and this ten percent land tax is very lenient!” Li Yesheng replied respectfully, retracting his charcoal pen and handing it to a villager following them. He then bowed and spoke in a low voice: “Eventually, we’ll need to send people to manage things, but among our Li family’s direct and collateral lines, there are truly no educated or capable individuals to take on such roles.”

“No need to worry,” Li Tongya waved his hand, performed a ‘Cleansing Spell’ under Li Yesheng’s envious gaze, dusting off his clothes, and leisurely replied: “Father and Xiangping will arrange everything.”