Chapter 270: Summons from the Upper Sect

The Li family’s wedding came unexpectedly, but invitations were delivered to everyone. All families around the lake with cultivators above the Qi Condensation stage received an invitation, and everyone attended except for the Yu family. Even rogue cultivators from the west bank’s Foundation Establishment stage sent representatives to observe the ceremony. Fei Wangbai, however, did not come himself, instead sending his eldest grandson, Fei Tongyu.

Fei Tongyu maintained the usual demeanor of a refined young master of the Fei family. Holding a fan, he stood among the guests. His words were polite and courteous, yet he showed little joy. He observed various aspects of the Li family, and looking at Li Yuanjiao, who was holding a cup at the head of the table, he felt a significant sense of unease.

"Li Yuanjiao... Peak Fetal Breath... such rapid cultivation speed," he thought. "Although Li Qinghong isn't among the guests, with her talent, she must be at least at the fifth layer of Fetal Breath. The Li family's power is growing too rapidly; this might not be a good thing."

Fei Tongyu set down his cup and looked at a young man sitting quietly by his side, drinking. Seeing that he had no cultivation whatsoever, yet was seated at the head table, Fei Tongyu deduced he must be an important direct descendant. He then asked, "May I ask your name, my friend?"

Li Yuanyun was squinting, lost in thought, and was startled by Fei Tongyu's voice. While Fei Tongyu didn't recognize this unknown individual, Li Yuanyun knew who the Fei family's direct descendant was. He replied courteously, "Oh no, please don't say that. I am just a commoner, Li Yuanyun, an unworthy direct descendant of the Li family. I am not worthy of such a respectful address!"

After several years of traveling down the mountain, Li Yuanyun had completely lost his naive youthful appearance, gaining instead a certain worldly shrewdness. He had tried countless folk methods rumored to open spirit apertures, from praying to gods and worshipping Buddhas, to spending money and seeking talismans. Years of such relentless struggle had worn him out, leaving him looking like a weary middle-aged man.

"May I ask, what is your relationship with Miss Qinghong...?"

"Li Qinghong is my elder sister by the same mother."

Li Yuanyun replied, and Fei Tongyu's spirits immediately lifted. Before leaving, his younger brother Fei Tongxiao had pleaded repeatedly, insisting that he carry over a dozen letters for Li Qinghong. Fei Tongyu had no choice but to agree, and since he couldn't find Li Qinghong at the banquet, he quickly asked, "Is Miss Qinghong... perhaps in seclusion on the mountain?"

"Precisely," Li Yuanyun replied with a nod. Fei Tongyu then began to speak:

"My younger brother..."

Seeing Fei Tongyu's hesitant expression, Li Yuanyun shook his head and continued, "My elder sister asked me to mention something: the cultivation method she is currently practicing makes it impossible for her to have descendants. I won't say more than that; this is all she wished for me to convey."

Fei Tongyu was not foolish. He paused slightly, and his initial thoughts settled. He simply replied, "Thank you, Brother Yuanyun."

Fei Tongyu originally had a good impression of Li Qinghong, but he had a cold temperament. This good impression stemmed more from the potential marriage alliance between the Li and Fei families, and his admiration for Li Qinghong's talent and conduct. Being older than Fei Tongxiao, he no longer harbored any obsessions with romantic love. Upon hearing that Li Qinghong could not have descendants, he easily let go of any personal intentions.

In just a few breaths, numerous thoughts had already passed through Fei Tongyu's mind. He was now only thinking about how to persuade his stubborn younger brother, and thus engaged in desultory conversation with Li Yuanyun.

Fei Tongyu glanced down the table and asked with a smile, "From what I've seen on my journey here, the number of non-family cultivators in your esteemed clan is so great that even our Fei and Yu families combined might not match it..."

Li Yuanyun merely gave a dry laugh and did not answer. After all, both the direct and collateral lines of the Li family were sparsely populated, and most of their vast spiritual fields were cultivated by non-family members, making the presence of many outsiders inevitable.

Seeing that Li Yuanyun did not wish to dwell on the topic, Fei Tongyu changed the subject. Looking at the well-behaved Li family disciples seated below, he said, "However, your esteemed clan has strict rules. I've long heard that the Li family's laws are harsh, and with Patriarch Tongya still in his prime, there's no fear of not being able to keep things under control."

Li Yuanyun burst into laughter, making a joke. "More than just harsh!" he chuckled. "There's a rumor in our clan that the main ancestral hall is like a Hall of Yama, and these clan rules are meant to roast all the disciples over a fire!"

Both of them chuckled and exchanged a few off-color jokes. Fei Tongyu's mind, however, was still preoccupied with his younger brother. He responded to Li Yuanyun while his gaze swept across the guests.

After three rounds of drinks, Fei Tongyu made up his mind. He left the banquet and stood in the woods to get some air. The setting sun slowly disappeared behind the undulating mountain range. Fei Tongyu felt the letters in his sleeve and conjured a vibrant red spiritual flame.

With his other hand, he took out the small, neatly arranged letters from his sleeve—letters that Fei Tongxiao had revised countless times. Fei Tongyu gave a wry smile and tossed them into the flame. Watching the letters fade away in the fire, he murmured, "Xiao'er, oh Xiao'er, a goddess belongs to the celestial mountains; why cling to mortal affections and earthly desires? Let go of this fantasy... just let it go..."

Fei Tongyu had already made up his mind to tell Fei Tongxiao upon his return that the letters had been delivered to Li Qinghong, and Li Qinghong had not uttered a single word, so Fei Tongxiao should let go of his hopes. As he watched these emotionally charged words turn to ash in the fire, Fei Tongyu ultimately felt a slight pang of reluctance and gave a wry smile. "What a mess this is," he murmured. "Perhaps it's retribution for the Fei family men always being so dissolute..."

Only then did Fei Tongyu finish dealing with the matter at hand. He sat silently on the steps, drinking, a faint red glow illuminating his face. He absently raised his head and looked at the crimson sky. After identifying the object in the sky, he exclaimed in shock, "How is this possible?"

Brilliant rays of colorful light had appeared in the sky, vibrant and dazzling in myriad colors, particularly striking against the dim night. The colorful light layered like ocean waves, approaching from the southeast. At the forefront, a massive ship glided like a giant bird, extending four pairs of phoenix-like, shimmering wings, drifting closer with deceptive speed.

The banquet beside him fell silent. Everyone looked up at the sky, mouths agape and eyes wide with astonishment, overwhelmed by the immense aura of the spiritual ship. They exchanged bewildered glances.

"A Cloud-Light Sky-Boat... An envoy from the Upper Sect!" someone exclaimed. "What... what is happening?!" Another muttered, "It's clearly not time for tribute..." "A Cloud-Light Sky-Boat!" came another voice.

Fei Tongyu was horrified and deeply uneasy, feeling as if a great disaster was imminent. Among the three families on the lake, only his Fei family had no internal backing within the sect; they had merely bribed a few stewards for information.

Now that the Cloud-Light Sky-Boat had arrived unexpectedly, it was likely instigated by either Li Chijing or Yu Muxian. If it was Yu Muxian, neither the Fei nor Li families would fare well. If it was the Li family, and his Fei family had received no prior warning, that also boded ill.

Fei Tongyu's face paled. He waited silently for a while, watching the Cloud-Light Sky-Boat fly over the east side of Lijing Mountain and descend towards the Dense Forest Commandery. Only then did his expression improve slightly. He took two steps into the air and went to find Li Xuanxuan.

"A Cloud-Light Sky-Boat..." Yu Mugao stared raptly at the scattering colorful light. The Cloud-Light Sky-Boat slowly docked atop the mountain. The intricate patterns on its surface slowly brightened, and the suffocating power of its formations relaxed as a single person floated down from the ship.

The young man was clad in green robes, spiritual light flowing from his topknot to his magical boots, radiating in myriad colors. His face was handsome, but he constantly frowned and kept his thin lips pressed together. The Yu family members quickly knelt down, a large group lowering themselves in unison. The young man's gaze swept over them, and he frowned, saying, "Where is Yu Xiaogui?! It's one thing for Yu Yufeng not to come, but why is Yu Xiaogui nowhere to be seen?!"

Yu Mugao quickly explained, "This humble one is Yu Mugao, greetings, honored envoy! My father is in isolated cultivation, and as for the Patriarch... he has not yet returned!"

The young man frowned, sweeping a disdainful glance over the kneeling crowd below, and replied, "For Muxian's sake, I won't bother to quibble with you all... My name is Chi Ziyan, the head disciple of Yuanwu Peak. Today, I am here to conscript members from the various families of Moon Lake to go to Yishan City. I ask for Patriarch Yu's assistance."