Chapter 273: Five Years

Li Xuanfeng had just been transferred to the Southern Border. Li Tongya's wife, Liu Rouxuan, only lasted a few more months and passed away on the mountain. Li Tongya remained by her bedside. Liu Rouxuan, with tears in her eyes, uttered a few halting words before she died:

"My husband, you still have over two hundred years of life left. I hope you will remarry. After my death, there's no need to favor the Liu clan, lest kindness inadvertently cause trouble."

Li Tongya sat quietly by the bed, speaking a few soft words. Liu Rouxuan had already passed away. Her son, Li Xuanling, wailed uncontrollably by the bedside. Li Yuanyun, from Dongshanyue, and Li Qinghong, stationed at Yuting Mountain, also rushed back to the mountain and shed silent tears below the bed.

Liu Rouxuan's face no longer held the delicate beauty and tenderness it had when she asked Li Tongya, "Do you cherish me?" in the small courtyard years ago. Before her death, her eyes were vacant, her lips stiff, and her face was etched with deep wrinkles. Only her frail, emaciated hands held tightly to Li Tongya's, never letting go until her last breath.

The entire Li family of Lijing was plunged into grief, with white mourning cloths draped everywhere. The Liu clan, on the other hand, was exceptionally apprehensive. For decades, the Liu clan had produced no notable talents; its main courtyard was filled with pleasure-seeking scions whose minds were solely focused on indulgence.

Now, with Liu Rouxuan's death, the entire Liu clan was both shocked and terrified, with cries of "Clan Matriarch is gone!" and "Ancestral Matriarch is gone!" echoing everywhere. It wasn't until Liu Rouxuan's last words were conveyed down the mountain that the urgency turned into outright desperation and even resentment among them.

Li Tongya buried Liu Rouxuan. He then looked at the numerous Li clan disciples who had rushed back to the mountain, unfastened the flowing, luminous spiritual sword, [Jiao Pan Ying], from his waist, and spoke gently:

"From now on, I will enter solitary cultivation for several, even dozens, of years and will not emerge. This spiritual sword would only gather dust with me, so it's better to entrust it to your hands."

"Yuanjiao!"

Hearing this, Li Yuanjiao quickly raised his head, stepped forward, and accepted the spiritual sword with both hands. Li Tongya said softly:

"Among all the disciples, you possess the highest talent in swordsmanship. Take this spiritual sword and use it first."

Li Yuanjiao was deeply moved, never having expected Li Tongya to bestow the sword upon him instead of his own son, Li Xuanling. He was about to decline, but Li Tongya simply waved his hand, gently pushed him back to his original position, and continued:

"Now you are the eldest brother. Look after your younger siblings; do not disappoint me."

He then turned to Li Xuanxuan, pondered for a moment, untied a storage bag from his waist, threw it into his hand, and said:

"I've also seen the tribute that noble families must pay. It's far more than the current Li family can afford. Next year, we'll need to pay five years' worth of tribute. Inside this bag are some spiritual artifacts and materials I've collected over the years. Take them to the market and sell them to cover this deficit."

Li Xuanxuan respectfully acknowledged this. Li Tongya then continued:

"However, this is not a permanent solution. I once made a strategic move in the Guanyun Peak market; a small shop wishes to align itself with our Li family. Go there immediately, organize its affairs, and establish a steady source of spirit stones for our family."

"You've refined so many talismans over the years; take them all to sell. Since you have no intention of cultivating, you may reside there from now on, drawing talismans and cultivating. Leave the family affairs to the younger generation."

Li Xuanxuan showed no displeasure, simply nodding in agreement. Li Tongya then instructed Li Xuanling:

"Besides your cultivation, help your elder brother more often."

Seeing everyone below nod in agreement, Li Tongya straightened up and said gently:

"Strive diligently in your cultivation, and care for your clan members."

"Yes!"

The crowd below responded in unison. Before their voices faded, Li Tongya's figure had already vanished. Li Xuanling wiped away his tears, exchanged a glance with Li Xuanxuan, and without hesitation, both immediately rode the wind towards Guanyun Peak.

The few from the Yuanqing generation gathered, exchanged a few encouraging words, and then each went down the mountain. The lights on Lijing Mountain flickered, and the brilliant morning glow rose from the horizon, sweeping across the Li family's territory. Wisps of cooking smoke ascended from the houses below the mountain, as a new day arrived on schedule.

Dongshanyue.

Dongshanyue had many mountain ranges but little arable land, making it unsuitable for sustaining a large population. However, there were numerous small mountains and spiritual veins. Li Yuanjiao had been circling the area for several months, surveying spiritual ley lines from west to east, and finally found a decent small mountain.

"Wutu Mountain."

Li Yuanjiao ascended on the wind, drew a light circle on the map in his hand, calculated the travel time, and examined the ley lines and spiritual aura. He nodded slowly and descended back to the foot of the mountain.

At the foot of the mountain stood a woman, graceful and noble, her phoenix eyes gleaming. Her dress flowed softly, and she held the hand of a boy who appeared to be five or six years old. The boy was clever and handsome, looking around inquisitively. As soon as Li Yuanjiao landed, the boy immediately hopped and exclaimed:

"Dad! This mountain looks like a bird!"

This boy was Li Yuanjiao's legitimate son, named Li Xizhi, who was just over four years old. He was well-behaved and adorable, much beloved by Li Yuanjiao and his wife.

"Hahahahaha."

Li Yuanjiao laughed heartily. Xiao Guiluan, standing beside him, asked softly:

"How is it?"

"The ley lines and spiritual aura are quite ample, no worse than Lijing Mountain's, making it one of the best within Dongshanyue."

Li Yuanjiao replied, then added:

"According to the ancient texts on surveying spiritual fields, the spiritual fields on Wutu Mountain are fertile and intact. You won't find a better location anywhere in Dongshanyue."

"Then let's settle here..."

A faint worry creased Xiao Guiluan's brows as she whispered:

"The noble families' tributes are too heavy. Our family has been suffering annual losses, and we can't delay any longer."

Li Yuanjiao fell silent for a moment, then nodded:

"Indeed."

Five years passed in the blink of an eye. During this period, the lake region remained relatively peaceful. The Yu family had relaxed their demands for tribute and control over the eastern shore families, retreating into Milin County without further activity. The Li family quietly assimilated Huazhong Mountain and Yuting Mountain, maintaining a quiet presence for a time.

In these five years, Li Qinghong and Li Yuanjiao both successively broke through to the Qi Refining stage. Most of the Yuan generation also had offspring. Li Yuanjiao's several illegitimate brothers' children were all over seven years old, but their talents were disappointing. Even those with spiritual orifices showed little aptitude, causing Li Yuanjiao to shake his head in dismay.

Li Xuanxuan had not returned from the market for years, so Li Yuanjiao, though unwilling, had to take over family affairs and temporarily act as the clan head.

Xiao Guiluan held Li Xizhi. Li Yuanjiao ascended on the wind, and the two exchanged a glance. Xiao Guiluan replied:

"There is something I should tell you, husband. I inquired with someone from Yushan. They need to forge spiritual artifacts and should be able to use our family's black jade ore. If we can supply the full amount, a premium of ten to twenty percent won't be an issue."

Li Yuanjiao's eyes immediately lit up with joy. He exclaimed:

"Excellent! If this succeeds, and we contribute another share, we can reduce our reliance on the clan treasury to meet the quota."

Since the Yu family's decline on the lake, a three-way standoff had formed. The Li family's biggest trouble, however, became the tribute to the Azure Pool Sect. The tribute for noble families was more than ten times that required during the Qi Refining stage, far exceeding the Li family's income at the time.

Only Li Tongya, a Foundation Establishment cultivator, unlike figures like Yu Yufeng, never demanded resources. Otherwise, Li Yuanjiao would not have been able to support the family even by selling off all its assets. Yet, Li Yuanjiao worried daily about the family's deficit, and upon hearing Xiao Guiluan's potential source of spirit stones, he couldn't help but praise her.

Seeing Xiao Guiluan smile without speaking, Li Yuanjiao suddenly paused, a smile playing on his lips as he chuckled:

"That... Xiao Xian, he's from the Yushan branch of the Xiao family, isn't he?"

"Heh."

Xiao Guiluan had also managed the family with Li Yuanjiao for five years; their relationship was harmonious. She chuckled softly, her phoenix eyes twinkling slightly as she said gently:

"His true intention isn't the wine! That Xiao Xian comes to Lijing Town every month just to find an excuse to see Qingxiao. Now that the Yushan branch has sent him to negotiate this matter, the boy must be overjoyed."