Chapter 289: Betrothal

The bones and flesh in the air quickly condensed into chains, locking the black-clothed cultivator's limbs. Below, Jiang Yan completed the final spell. The black-clothed cultivator was already greatly alarmed, his expression filled with despair. Watching the black snake slithering around his neck, he hissed:“Since Senior knows I hail from Wushan and am privy to many secrets, you should also know that even if I cannot defeat you, I have no shortage of methods to take us both down!”

The black-clothed cultivator's expression was resolute as he stared at the slowly approaching hideous black snake. However, the black snake flicked its tongue, let out a sneer, and replied:“You may try.”

The black-clothed cultivator glared, then his face suddenly changed dramatically, and he exclaimed in a choked voice:“This… 'Blood of the Devoured'! How is this possible?!… You!”Suddenly, threads of deep red, mysterious arcane light rose from his body, obediently flowing towards Jiang Boqing, dancing and swirling over the snake's body.

“Why is it impossible?”Jiang Boqing flicked his tongue, his hissing voice gradually softening, and he said indifferently:“I, too, once sought the 'Nine-Ninth Nature of Witch-Lotus Blood'. Although I later abandoned that cultivation for other paths, I am far stronger than a half-baked practitioner like yourself.”

The black-clothed cultivator was already whimpering, unable to speak, but Jiang Boqing's voice was full of enjoyment as he said with satisfaction:“The 'Blood of the Devoured' still remembers this old man, but it scorns you deeply!”

Below, Jiang Yan quietly watched the drama unfolding above, saying idly:“Master! Didn't you want that lightning-attributed immortal foundation? What element does this 'Blood of the Devoured' belong to…”

The black snake stiffened, then finally transformed into a long black whip, slowly drooping downwards. A black cloud rose on the black-clothed cultivator's face, and he mumbled dazedly:“First, I'll take this body for use! Although Duanmu Kui is dead, and no one practices the 'Nine-Ninth Nature of Witch-Lotus Blood', 'A Beggar's Question Under the Mulberry Tree' has vanished. Where can I find the remaining immortal foundations? Cultivating this 'Blood of the Devoured' leads nowhere.I'll use this body to travel for a while, and if I find a better one, I'll replace it!”

Jiang Yan nodded, then heard Jiang Boqing's sinister voice from above:“After all, it's a Foundation Establishment cultivation. Taking possession isn't easy, so please guard me for a bit.”

The black-clothed cultivator then sank to a sitting position, black clouds swirling around his face. Jiang Yan casually took a few steps, removed the black gourd from the black-clothed cultivator's waist, and said with a soft laugh:“Blood Fiend Malice, it's really just right. What you need comes to you.”

Jiang Yan's tone was relaxed, yet her eyes were full of suspicion. She weighed the gourd in her hand, removed its lid, glanced at the glowing red fiendish energy inside, then sat cross-legged. With her fingers pressed together, she touched her glabella, drawing forth a brightly glowing talisman.

The talisman was entirely golden, shimmering with arcane light. Jiang Yan poured out the Blood Fiend Malice and began to silently refine it.

Wutu Mountain was close to Lijing Mountain. Li Yuanjiao arrived by wind in about half an incense stick's time. As he landed on the mountain, Li Yuanping and Li Qingxiao both stood up and respectfully said:“Elder Brother / Brother Jiao!”

Li Yuanjiao's eyes gleamed with spiritual light, and his aura was vibrant. It seemed that in the past year or two, under the enhancement of the "Qi-Circulating Spirit Devouring Talisman" and through diligent cultivation on Wutu Mountain, his strength had advanced further. He nodded towards his younger siblings.Chen Donghe and his wife, who were nearby, quickly returned to Lijing Mountain. Li Jingxian looked worried, while Chen Donghe was calm and thoughtful.

The group was conversing, but their minds were clearly elsewhere, all waiting for their elder sister, Li Qinghong, to arrive. However, after a long wait, her valiant figure never appeared. Only half an hour later did someone report, bowing at the entrance of the courtyard:“Reporting from Yuting Peak, Immortal Master Li entered seclusion yesterday to attempt a breakthrough to Qi Condensation Layer Three. She has not yet emerged from her courtyard. This humble one believes she is at a crucial point in her breakthrough and dared not knock on the mansion gate, so I returned to report!”“Qinghong is breaking through…”

The group exchanged glances. Li Jingxian was the first to show impatience; after all, it was her daughter. She said softly:“Xiao'er, come with me into the house.”After speaking, she lightly nodded towards the others and smiled:“My daughter and I have some private matters to discuss, please wait a moment.”

Everyone nodded in understanding. As the mother and daughter entered the house, Li Yuanjiao cupped his hands and asked:“What do you think, Uncle?”Chen Donghe merely shook his head and said gently:“I have heard of Xiao Xian. He seems diligent enough. I only have one daughter, Qingxiao. I don't ask that Xiao Xian cultivate an immortal method or refine an immortal foundation; as long as he doesn't mistreat my child, that will suffice.”Chen Donghe's tone was gentle, but his expression was very firm. In recent years, he had also broken through to Qi Condensation Layer Four, making him a pillar of the Li family. Having lived comfortably and respected for many years, he naturally carried an air of authority. He said gravely:“If Qingxiao is amenable, then I have no objection to this marriage.”

Yuanping and Yuanjiao, the two brothers, exchanged a glance. Li Yuanjiao spoke:“Uncle, rest assured. The Yushan lineage would not dare to mistreat Qingxiao. If this matter is settled, it will certainly be a grand wedding procession of ten li, with cultivators clearing the way!”

While the others were discussing outside, Li Qingxiao followed her mother, Li Jingxian, into the house. Li Jingxian pulled her daughter to sit down, saying somewhat urgently:“This matter is of great importance. Have you thought it through carefully?”Li Qingxiao lowered her head and replied quietly:“If I refuse Xiao Xian, not only will the family face awkwardness, but can Mother find a better match?”

Li Jingxian furrowed her brow, opened her mouth, and shook her head:“Matters of the heart have always been about mutual consent, not whether he is good or bad, but whether you are willing or not… Our family rarely forces marriages. If you truly wish it, even if you were to marry a mortal without spiritual apertures, your father and I could manage the family affairs for you.”Li Qingxiao blinked, then suddenly let out a soft laugh, charmingly saying:“Forget mortals; I don't even care for a few of the prominent families here. Mother, you jest. This isn't a storybook; naturally, it's about matching families. As for willingness or unwillingness…Given our family's current status, how many families can we truly form an alliance with? How many would dare to? There are only a handful, separated by thousands of miles. It's rare enough to meet before marriage, let alone to have feelings or not. It's simply about looks and conduct!”

Li Jingxian knew this well, but her concern clouded her judgment. She sighed softly. Li Qingxiao lowered her head, calm and rational, then paused before saying:“Xiao Xian has shown ample respect, so there's no need to be too serious. It's better to be a bit flexible in these matters.”

The mother and daughter conversed privately for a while, then emerged from the house. Li Qingxiao, smiling, agreed to the matter. Li Yuanjiao laughed:“Then I'll report this to the Old Ancestor immediately and write to Guanyun Peak… to finalize this matter.”

Everyone nodded. Just then, a person rushed up from outside the door. He looked up at the group in the courtyard, hesitated for a moment, then bowed before Li Yuanjiao, saying respectfully:“Reporting to the young masters, the Xiao family has sent someone, saying there's been a change within their sect.”“Who has come?”Li Yuanjiao asked. The clan soldier replied:“The Xiao family's eldest young master, Xiao Guitu.”“Xiao Guitu!”

Li Yuanjiao and Li Yuanping exchanged glances, cupped their hands towards Li Jingxian and her husband, and then hurried away.

After seeing them off, Chen Donghe sat down at the head of the room. Li Jingxian nudged her husband, then, seeing Li Qingxiao leave to put away books, she whispered:“Xiao Xian is good, but he lacks ambition. He might be cunning, but he doesn't seem capable of decisive action, so he probably won't achieve great things.”“Great things…”

Chen Donghe shook his head, put the sword from his waist back into its brocade pouch, and said gently:“It's enough if he can live an honest life. Why demand great achievements? Eagles and sparrows that soar high are easily shot down by hunters, leaving my daughter alone then?”Li Jingxian shook her head, saying with some worry:“That's not necessarily true. If one doesn't soar, does it mean they won't suffer grievances?”