Chapter 224: Several Lifetimes of Scheming

"The eastern region was ceded, including the Linghe area. The southern border offered treasures to that old flood dragon. The Purple Mist Sect in the north, a long-standing ally, remained relatively compliant. But in the west, a corner was again cut off by Xiao Chuting..."

Chi Zhiyun sat silently on his resplendent throne, his hand pressed against his forehead, deep in thought. A great trepidation filled his heart. Only after ascending to this position did he truly understand what Chi Wei had said before his death: the Green Pond Sect was now sitting atop a volcano poised to erupt.

Immediately after Chi Wei's death, the Xiao family declared itself an Immortal Clan. The other Immortal Sects repeatedly probed, and the aristocratic families in various commanderies grew restless. If not for the four Purple Mansion cultivators stationed there, a major crisis would have erupted long ago.

"Now, we can only appease the Xiao family, ensuring their neutrality, and then harshly suppress the other aristocratic families. As long as there are four Purple Mansion cultivators within the sect, no major problems should arise."Chi Zhiyun gnashed his teeth, recalling the four Foundation Establishment cultivators that had emerged from the Xiao family overnight. He slammed the armrest forcefully and muttered hatefully, "These aristocratic families are truly detestable!"

While Chi Zhiyun was still lost in thought, someone from below approached respectfully and said, "Sect Master... there's been unrest in Linghai Commandery. A group of demonic cultivators instigated rogue cultivators to attack the market established by our Green Pond Sect. Fortunately, several Peak Masters arrived in time, and the crowd dispersed. Only a few poor rogue cultivators were captured."

Chi Zhiyun incredulously raised his head and said in a deep voice, "How is that possible?! A few rogue cultivators dare to assault an Immortal Sect's market?!"The man hesitated for a moment before replying, "Sect Master! According to the Peak Masters, these individuals seemed to be under the influence of demonic arts, acting in a frenzy. It's likely not simple."

"Demonic arts?" Chi Zhiyun paused. In ancient times, people often spoke of demon lords who deserved to be slain, but now few distinguished between immortals and demons. If anything, it was the bizarre nature of the spells that seemed implicated."Don't concern yourself with it for now," he waved his hand and said quietly.

The man bowed again and continued, "Si Yuanbai has left the pagoda. He packed his belongings from Green Pond Peak and departed without speaking to that True Person, simply heading outside the peak."Chi Zhiyun let out a soft chuckle and nodded, "Let him go."

Li Tongya bade farewell to the fox and traveled eastward on the wind, landing in the Guanfeng Peak market. Now that Xiao Chuting had achieved the Purple Mansion realm, the atmosphere here had changed. Cultivators would frequently descend, specifically to discuss news of the Xiao family.

Li Tongya found a spiritual medicine shop. An apprentice in the Embryonic Breathing realm was sitting behind the counter, counting herbs. Upon seeing Li Tongya, he immediately stood up and walked forward with a fawning expression, smiling, "Sir, are you looking to buy herbs?""Yes," Li Tongya nodded, lowering his voice, "Precious medicine."

The apprentice froze for a moment, then quickly knelt down, trembling as he spoke, "Forgive my presumption, but may I ask if you are a Foundation Establishment senior?""Indeed," Li Tongya replied softly. The apprentice immediately prostrated himself, kowtowing several times with a thud. His voice still trembling, he stammered, "My humble voice has offended your distinguished ears. Please, senior, come upstairs."

Li Tongya was momentarily speechless. He hadn't realized that Foundation Establishment cultivators commanded such reverence. He opened his mouth but, seeing the apprentice still trembling, ultimately said nothing and quietly ascended the stairs.

The second floor's decor was noticeably more luxurious. Several Qi Condensation cultivators were at the counter, examining and selecting herbs. As Li Tongya entered, everyone turned to look. Their spiritual senses brushed against Li Tongya, then recoiled in shock. They all respectfully greeted him, "Greetings, senior!" and "Greetings, Old Ancestor!"

Seeing all the Qi Condensation cultivators nervously watching him and the entire medicine shop fall silent, Li Tongya could only wave his hand and say, "Please, carry on. I'm just looking for an herb.""Yes!" The Qi Condensation cultivators, seeing Li Tongya's instruction, had no choice but to awkwardly continue browsing. They exchanged glances and tacitly took turns excusing themselves. Before long, Li Tongya was the only customer left in the vast hall. The shopkeeper, whose business had been interrupted, was beaming with a fawning smile. He respectfully asked, "How may I help you, senior?"

"Do you have any precious medicine?"The shopkeeper's eyebrow twitched at Li Tongya's words. He cautiously replied, "Under Green Pond's governance, precious medicines are forbidden for sale. Only the Green Pond Sect itself can trade them. You jest, senior."

Li Tongya immediately paused. Observing the expressions of the Qi Condensation cultivators, he had a guess. He lowered his voice and said, "It seems Foundation Establishment cultivators no longer use this market?"The shopkeeper respectfully responded, "Senior, the Guanfeng Peak market primarily offers spiritual artifacts and items for those in the Embryonic Breathing and Qi Condensation realms. Foundation Establishment cultivators rarely visit here. You might inquire at some nearby aristocratic families; they might have information about precious medicines...""In Yue Kingdom, only a few markets can supply spiritual items and artifacts of Foundation Establishment level. When the Moon-Gazing Lake market was active some years ago, Foundation Establishment cultivators would frequent it, but sadly, it has since been destroyed."

Seeing Li Tongya lost in silent thought, the shopkeeper offered a flattering smile and respectfully suggested, "Senior, you should still inquire with the aristocratic families: the Immortal Clan on the peak, the Yuan family from Mushroom Forest Plain, and the Yu and Fei families from Moon-Gazing Lake. They should also have news about precious medicines."

Li Tongya nodded, but a bitter smile played on his lips inwardly. He thought to himself, "Buying precious medicine from the Xiao family, only to then give it back to them as a congratulatory gift, would be too ridiculous."

The shopkeeper raised an eyebrow, observing Li Tongya's expression. He respectfully asked, "May I ask, senior... which aristocratic family's Old Ancestor are you, or on which peak do you cultivate? I would be honored to inquire on your behalf and immediately deliver any news to you in the future."Li Tongya raised an eyebrow. He hadn't expected this man to be so shrewd and bold, understanding that the medicine shopkeeper wanted to curry favor and find a patron. However, news of his breakthrough was only known to a few direct descendants and allies, making it unsuitable for wider dissemination. Furthermore, it wasn't the right time to get involved in this market. So, he waved his hand and said, "Just a rogue cultivator."

The shopkeeper wiped the cold sweat from his forehead and repeatedly apologized. Li Tongya shook his head dismissively. Seeing the man's quick wit, he offered a cryptic remark, "You can hold onto any information for now. I'll return here in a few years to check."The shopkeeper's eyes lit up, and he nodded repeatedly. Li Tongya then ascended on the wind and disappeared above the market. Only then did the shopkeeper wipe his sweat, his mind stirred. He murmured, "If we had the backing of a Foundation Establishment aristocratic family, we could move closer to the market center and wouldn't have to face constant exclusion."The apprentice behind him stepped forward and quietly asked, "How did you know, shopkeeper? What if he really was just a rogue cultivator... wouldn't we just be inviting a master to exploit us?"

The shopkeeper chuckled lowly and whispered, "This senior immediately asked for precious medicine. How could a rogue cultivator afford such an item? Besides, his bearing was grand and imposing; he clearly holds a high position, or at the very least, comes from a minor sect or temple... You all still have much to learn!""Yes!" the apprentice humbly replied. Everyone then joyfully began organizing the medicinal herbs.

Li Tongya ascended on the wind, and the Guanfeng Peak market below him grew smaller and smaller. He mused inwardly, "My family is backed by a great mountain and can produce many herbs and spiritual items. We also need a storefront in the market. Furthermore, with alchemy formulas and a cauldron now in the family, we will need a legacy of alchemy in the future, and these herbs will be indispensable. This man is shrewd and bold; I'll keep him in mind as a potential asset. He might be useful later."

Li Tongya recalled the reactions of the people around him, a profound realization stirring within his heart. He had previously only considered Foundation Establishment cultivators honorable, but he never imagined it was to this extent. Back then, when Si Yuanbai descended from the sky, Li family's brothers could only put on a brave front while trembling inside. Now, having achieved Foundation Establishment himself, he had become a figure of the same standing. Everyone called him "Old Ancestor," and within the Green Pond Sect, he would be a Peak Master level individual.

"Among the Three Sects and Seven Gates, Green Pond has the most, with around forty Foundation Establishment cultivators across its thirty-six peaks. I hear the Golden Feather Sect and Cultivation Yue Sect combined have over fifty Foundation Establishment cultivators. The remaining Seven Gates have fewer, totaling fifty or sixty. Adding in all the various aristocratic families and rogue cultivators, there should be over two hundred Foundation Establishment cultivators in Yue Kingdom."

Across the entire Yue Kingdom, with tens of millions of people and tens of thousands of cultivators, there were only over two hundred Foundation Establishment cultivators, which spoke to their prestige. The Li family couldn't compare to the Xiao family, but compared to other families, they now had some foundation. With the blessing of the Talisman Seed, Li Xuanfeng was currently the only one with Foundation Establishment within sight.

"As for the Purple Mansion realm..." Li Tongya sighed inwardly. He had seen so many people now, and apart from his fourth brother, Li Chijing, only An Jingming could be considered to have the potential for Purple Mansion. Including those he'd met briefly, perhaps Ning Wan could also be added to that list.

"Xuan Xuan and Xuan Ling originally had no spiritual apertures, and cultivating with the Talisman Seed, reaching Qi Condensation was already a significant boost. Xuanfeng's temperament is too fiery, and his ambitions too wild. He's capable of killing humans and demons, but it's unlikely he'll reach the Purple Mansion realm.""Yuan Jiao and Qing Hong have better talent, though not to a monstrous degree. With the Talisman Seed's blessing, they should have a chance to attempt Foundation Establishment, but the Purple Mansion realm is still a distant prospect. The Li family doesn't know how many generations it will take to produce such a figure."

He sighed softly in the vast sky, secretly chiding himself for his lingering dissatisfaction. He murmured, "With one or two Foundation Establishment cultivators, the family can steadily continue and slowly build its foundation. The Xiao family took three hundred years to produce a Purple Mansion cultivator; my family is not even a hundred years old. Forcing it would be meaningless."

Pulling his thoughts back, Li Tongya reconsidered the matter of the precious medicine. He mused, "Among these aristocratic families, I can't ask the Xiao or Yu families. The Fei family is as humble as mine, and I've never had contact with the Yuan family. However..."Suddenly, Li Tongya's eyes lit up, and a place came to mind. He thought, "I could go and ask there, and also have a chat with that person. After all, we're neighbors, and it would be best to forge a good relationship."

Having made up his mind, Li Tongya ascended on the wind and headed westward.

"Li Yuanjiao!" Li Qinghong walked forward with a beaming smile. Her clear voice startled Li Yuanjiao from his thoughts. Li Yuanjiao grunted indignantly and retorted, "Li Qinghong! Three years apart, and you can't even call me 'Brother' anymore?!""Hehe," Li Qinghong planted her long spear, its red tassel dancing in the air, her bright red robe gently swaying in the wind. She smiled, "Were you thinking about my future sister-in-law?"

Li Yuanjiao's expression faltered. He grunted, a corner of his mouth twitching upwards, and drew his sword. Smiling, he feigned anger, "Still so cheeky! Quickly, call me Brother!"With that, he raised his sword to block Li Qinghong's thrust. The two laughed as they sparred for dozens of rounds. Li Qinghong's spear technique had improved significantly, causing Li Yuanjiao to repeatedly raise his eyebrows. Yet, he continued to tease her, "You've studied in the aristocratic family for all these years, and this is all the skill you've gained?"

Li Qinghong didn't retort, but her spear technique grew fiercer. Both used the Yuehe Torrent Step, though neither was proficient. One would execute a move, the other half a counter, each taking turns gaining the upper hand. Unable to break the stalemate, they burst into laughter, stopped their moves, and sat down to chat.

"Qinghong, your spear technique has improved remarkably, and your cultivation has greatly increased. Those three years with the Fei family were not wasted." Li Yuanjiao said earnestly.Li Qinghong replied with a beaming smile, "Brother, you wouldn't believe it, the spiritual energy concentration on Cold Cloud Peak of the Fei family is incomparable to ours. Plus, their territory is vast, and they have many peaks. No wonder they can nurture so many Qi Condensation cultivators."

Li Yuanjiao wiped his sweat, sheathed his sword, and chuckled, "Indeed. If our family didn't now have Huaqian Mountain and the Mountain Yue supplying us, where would we get spirit rice for every meal? We wouldn't even be able to pay our family's tributes. Whether it's the elders or us younger generations, our breakthrough times would probably be delayed by three or four years."

Their eyes met. Li Qinghong murmured, "Brother is absolutely right. In my opinion, if not for the family's expansion and prosperity, how could all the lineages and surnames be as compliant as they are now? People seek profit and fear death. Intimidation from the Old Ancestor and incentives from the elders—that is the long-term path."

"I never thought even women would hold such insights," Li Yuanjiao teased, then said seriously, "You've hit the nail on the head. When Elder Brother is no longer here, you and I will lead the Yuanqing generation. We must plan meticulously to keep all the surnames and lineages suppressed."

Seeing Li Qinghong's thoughtful expression, Li Yuanjiao felt a sense of approval, almost like finding a kindred spirit. Suddenly, he remembered something, and his expression changed. He said in a grave tone, "I heard from the elders that you intend to cultivate the 'Purple Thunder Secret Origin Art'? Father also asked me to persuade you. Qinghong, if you've given it thought, perhaps you can explain your reasoning."

Li Qinghong nodded slightly and whispered, "That's right. That cultivation technique is extremely powerful and perfectly matches our family's artifacts. I'm a lover of spears, so how could I not be tempted? This lineage already has Yuan Yun as heir, so I gain my freedom. Not being an heir is no great obstacle."

Li Yuanjiao could only nod. Both siblings had made progress over the past three years. In their conversation, as they discussed various individuals, they expressed immense admiration for each other. Li Yuanjiao looked up with a smile and saw a streak of light approaching from the east. He said, "Uncle Cong has returned from hunting demons. That Golden Geng Longbow is truly striking."Li Qinghong, however, looked somewhat downcast. She murmured, "Don't laugh, Brother, but I'm also ambitious and understand him best. Uncle Cong, with all his killing techniques, is trapped in the small world of Lijing Mountain. He must be feeling stifled.""A person like him is meant to roam freely like a protagonist in a story, settling grievances as he pleases. But being confined to the mountains, he naturally feels repressed. It's just that he's never willing to express it."

Li Yuanjiao froze, realizing for the first time that such a thing was happening. He raised an eyebrow and quietly asked, "Do the elders... know?"Li Qinghong pursed her lips and replied, "Of course they know. They see it, but they're constrained by the situation and dare not speak much. Each elder has their own difficulties, all for the sake of the family."Li Yuanjiao remained silent, his hand silently tightening on his sword hilt. After a long time, he finally sighed, "With the strength of our single clan, it will take several generations to scheme our way into becoming an Immortal Clan."