Chapter 292: Life of Food

Yuanwu Peak, one of the top five peaks of the Green Pond Sect, stood twice as high as the adjacent Qinghui Peak. From its elevated position, it overlooked numerous other immortal peaks. Shrouded in swirling mist, and renowned as the primary peak for crafting artifacts, it was a hub of activity. Fire veins constantly erupted, and cultivators frequently arrived and departed, making it a bustling and lively place.

Within a secluded cave dwelling on Yuanwu Peak, spiritual energy was dense, and spiritual springs gushed forth. Dark, inky stones stood out sharply against the pristine white spiritual mist. A glistening jade table shimmered, upon which sat a pot of wine and two jade cups.

The person on the left, dressed in white and wearing a jade crown, possessed a handsome, graceful, and ethereal appearance. An otherworldly immortal aura emanated from his brows. He held a jade cup, his posture impeccably elegant, and with a beaming smile, he said:

“This Foundation Establishment is truly distinct. From now on, one lives by spiritual energy, gains a lifespan of three hundred years, and acquires some divine abilities!”

The person on the right, whose appearance was unremarkable, nodded contentedly upon hearing this. He paused, then said:

“Mu Xian, you have finally endured those twenty years of suffering, the peeling of flesh.”

“Just minor trials.”

Yu Muxian dismissed it with a wave of his hand, his expression firm, and a faint smile playing on his lips. He said:

“Senior Brother Tang, I only wish to cultivate divine abilities and achieve the Golden Nature. I am willing to endure a thousand hardships for it. Although the Golden Erosion Cave is painful, it is a grand path leading directly to the Purple Mansion, and I would not trade it for anything.”

Senior Brother Tang nodded admiringly and said gently:

“Now that you have achieved Foundation Establishment, do you intend to send word to your family? It seems you haven't contacted the Yu family for quite some time.”

“No need!”

Yu Muxian’s expression turned cold, his immortal aura stern as he said in a deep voice:

“Chi Zhiyan deliberately said certain things to Yu Mugao, startling him. He hasn't written to me in years. My brother has always been cunning; he has likely seen through my explanations and no longer trusts me.”

“Yu Yufeng is dead, and the Yu family has lost influence over the lake. Not only can they no longer provide me with Foundation Establishment-level spiritual medicines, but even their daily supplies are dwindling. The Yu family has lost its usefulness; it would be best if they do not become a burden to me.”

Senior Brother Tang saw nothing amiss, merely frowning as he said:

“Perhaps we should elevate the Yu family so they can gather resources from the lake for you?”

“No.”

Yu Muxian shook his head and replied:

“Xiao Chuting is exceptionally skilled at divination, and his immortal foundation is incredibly peculiar. I do not wish to cross him. Supporting the Yu family would only bring more trouble than benefit; a wise person would not do such a thing.”

Senior Brother Tang understood instantly. He took a sip of spiritual tea and inquired:

“You are still more thoughtful, Junior Brother. Tell me how you wish to proceed; although I don’t possess great cultivation, I do have some connections.”

Yu Muxian pondered for a few moments, then replied:

“The power dynamic on the lake must not change; it is the result of compromises from many parties. The destiny that Wrathful Maha seeks is drawing ever closer, and all the Purple Mansion cultivators are watching. It is not advisable for us to make any moves.”

“Once Li Tongya crosses the river and the important matters of the Purple Mansion cultivators are settled, I will then stabilize the situation on the lake, ensuring no major changes occur.”

Senior Brother Tang was silent for a moment, then replied:

“Junior Brother, you mean we should remain inactive for now...”

“Precisely.”

Yu Muxian nodded slowly and said softly:

“Though Jiangnan appears clear now, strong undercurrents are surging beneath the surface. To the north is the reincarnation of Maha, and to the south, the Witchcraft Dao is refining talismans. While Foundation Establishment is noble, in these great winds and waves, we are merely small pawns. We must simply lay low and wait in silence.”

Senior Brother Tang sighed, took a sip of tea, and shook his head, saying:

“It’s just a pity that Yu Yufeng cultivated a Jade Court General and ended up clashing with that Sword Immortal. Had he not died, he might still have been of some use.”

“He brought it upon himself!”

Yu Muxian’s expression finally shifted, and he said somewhat indignantly:

“The True Immortal Shangyuan required the Jade True Six-Nine to harmonize with Void Nature. As soon as I entered the sect and learned this, I specifically notified him. Yet, he still clung to a sliver of hope and secretly performed blood sacrifices within the Yu family! In the end, his misdeeds came to light, and if I hadn't quickly distanced myself, I would have been implicated by him!”

“After all, it was an act that obstructed someone’s path to cultivation.”

Senior Brother Tang let out a long sigh.

Li Yuanjiao and others knelt quietly before the stone door of the cave dwelling. After waiting for a moment, a man with a solemn expression and broad shoulders emerged, a sword strapped to his back. He appeared to be around sixty years old. As he stepped out of the cave, all the Li family juniors respectfully greeted him:

“Greetings, Old Ancestor!”

“Hmm.”

Li Tongya responded, holding two small letters in his hand. He looked down at Li Yuanjiao and said gently:

“Good, you’ve already reached the fourth layer of Qi Cultivation.”

Li Yuanjiao’s innate talent was indeed excellent; when he received the talisman, cultivation accumulated within his body, constantly increasing. While Li Qinghong was in seclusion attempting to break through to the third layer, he had naturally reached the fourth. He simply bowed his head slightly and said respectfully:

“It is all thanks to the power of the talismanic aura.”

Li Tongya sat down at the jade table within the cave. From his sleeve, he took out the two small letters. One was indeed written by Li Yuanjiao, detailing matters concerning Yu Muxian, which both already knew, so he merely glanced at it. The other letter came from Guanyun Peak:

“Respectfully inform honored uncle, Junior Brother Ling departed north three months ago and has not yet returned. His jade talisman remains bright, indicating no harm.”

“Uncle Xuanling... he’s missing?!”

Li Tongya nodded slowly, appearing unsurprised. He simply stared at Li Yuanjiao and said in a low voice:

“Indeed. What are your thoughts?”

Li Yuanjiao paused for a moment, pondering. He gritted his teeth and said in a deep voice:

“Third Uncle is missing, and his safety is unknown. As your junior, I shouldn’t speak of such things, but truthfully... I suspect a trick!”

“Oh?”

Li Tongya nodded, as if the missing person were not his own son, and said steadily:

“Why?”

Li Yuanjiao cupped his hands and replied:

“Uncle Xuanling has always been prudent; he would not disappear for months without sending any word. If there has been no news for an extended period, yet his jade talisman remains bright and unbroken, he must have been deliberately trapped. I fear their true intention is hidden; it is likely a stratagem to ‘lure the tiger from its mountain’ or ‘draw the snake out of its hole,’ targeting either you, Old Ancestor, or Lijing Mountain.”

Li Tongya nodded in approval and said gently:

“If I continue to remain on this mountain and do not go north, within a few months, someone will surely arrive with Xuanling’s handwritten plea for help, forcing me to go.”

Li Yuanjiao said hoarsely:

“What if you still choose not to go, Old Ancestor?”

“Then his head will be delivered.”

Li Tongya shook his head and smiled:

“Those great ones have coveted my destiny for many years. I have clashed with them repeatedly, and now we are at the final move. If I obey, only my son and I will perish. But if I refuse their ‘toast’ and invite their ‘punishment’—if I cling to life out of fear—then the consequences will be far more severe than just our deaths.”

“So it’s the great figures of the Purple Mansion Maha...”

Li Yuanjiao muttered something indistinctly, then added with a hint of reluctance:

“I just don’t understand why they must harm you, Old Ancestor.”

“At first, I didn’t understand either. I thought some Purple Mansion cultivator wanted to make use of my immortal foundation.”

Li Tongya chuckled lightly, then stared into Li Yuanjiao’s eyes and said solemnly:

“Later, when Murong Xiannan arrived, Minghui intervened to stop me, subtly revealing some information. After extensive inquiries, I finally learned...”

“The one who seeks my life is not from the Purple Mansion... but Maha.”

Li Yuanjiao frowned deeply, an ineffable pain in his heart. He rubbed the coiled dragon pillar at his waist and said in a deep voice:

“But... but Maha doesn’t need an immortal foundation. What benefit is there in harming you, Old Ancestor?!”

Li Tongya took down the Green Ruler Sword, carefully unwrapping layers of cloth. With a flick of his finger, the long blade sprang out an inch, gleaming with a translucent, greenish-white light. The sword’s radiance illuminated his eyes, making them sparkle. As he raised an eyebrow, his formerly calm demeanor completely transformed, revealing a sinister aura reminiscent of a serpent-dragon.

Li Tongya gazed gently at the peak Foundation Establishment immortal sword and said softly:

“Immortal cultivators subsist on spiritual energy, Buddhist cultivators on destiny. Maha covets the destiny of my Heavy Sea Whale-Dragon physique.”