Chapter 303: Return (Part 1)

On Wutu Peak, clouds and mist gathered, with sunlight dappling through the pale white veil. A young man in black slowly exhaled, and spiritual energy and vital force, like the mist itself, surged into his mouth and teeth, jostling for position in a truly remarkable manner.

Beside him, on a large bluestone, sat a beautiful woman in jade armor. A spear lay across her lap, and her slender hands, like green onion shoots, held a light-colored jade slip, which she read with a somewhat distracted look. Small characters were delicately carved into its edge:

《Feather-Folding Spear》

The woman silently practiced gestures with her hands. The young man beside her let out a long breath, exhaling white mist. He opened his eyes to see the morning glow slowly rising in the sky, his face etched with worry.

"Ancestor has been gone for days, and we haven't heard a single bit of news."

Li Qinghong, who was nearby, put down the jade slip, picked up the spear from her lap, and jumped down from the bluestone. "Why don't you let me go look for him?" she said in a muffled voice.

"Absolutely not!"

Li Yuanjiao shook his head, quickly stood up to stop her, and said solemnly, "When Ancestor left home, he specifically instructed me to look after you carefully. That's why I called you to Wutu Mountain to personally keep watch, precisely to prevent you from going out alone to search..."

Li Qinghong flipped her hand to put away the jade slip, shook her head somewhat dejectedly, and replied, "How can anyone calm their mind in this state? I've read the spear technique Ancestor obtained from the Xiao family over and over again, but I just can't help but worry about him. You keep glancing at the sky while cultivating, and you haven't made any progress either."

Li Yuanjiao shook his head and took out a warming jade from his bosom. The jade was dull and lusterless, with faint cracks appearing. Li Qinghong leaned over to look, opened her mouth, but said nothing.

After the Li family achieved aristocratic status, Li Tongya specifically sought someone to create this item. He had originally intended to use items like soul wood or soul lamps that could display fortune, misfortune, life, and death, but he was startled by the high cost and could only choose this cheapest life jade.

This life jade, once imbued with a drop of blood and nurtured for a period, could display the life or death of the cultivator whose blood was used. Its cost was already considerable, and it required at least a Qi Condensation cultivation level, so only a few Qi Condensation cultivators of the Xuan generation and Li Tongya had one made.

This item should have been kept in the ancestral hall. Li Xuanling and Li Xuanxuan had taken theirs to the market, and Li Xuanfeng's life jade had lost its efficacy because it hadn't been nurtured for too long. Only Li Tongya's remained at home, which Li Yuanjiao had specifically taken out to check on from time to time.

Seeing the life jade dull and lusterless, the brother and sister exchanged glances, both seeing the worry in the other's eyes. Li Qinghong sighed deeply, her curved eyebrows expressing concern, and said gently, "In the past, with Father and Grandfather shouldering the burden, our hearts were always at ease. Now, it's up to you and me to support the family. Looking ahead, the path is dim, the Upper Sect is dangerous, and we must be diligent day and night, which secretly fills one with dread."

"Indeed!"

Li Yuanjiao felt this most deeply among all the children. Li Tongya had personally entrusted the Li family to him, and when he took the jade box, he felt an immense weight, almost suffocating him. Now, after a moment's thought, he whispered, "The 'Spirit-Swallowing Incantation' is very effective. I am now at the fourth level of Qi Condensation, and within twenty years, there might be hope for Foundation Establishment..."

Li Qinghong had just broken through to the third level of Qi Condensation. Hearing this, she was quite envious and replied, "As expected of a Foundation Establishment-level incantation, it's truly excellent. Back then, your cultivation speed wasn't even as fast as mine, but now you've surpassed me!"

As the two were chatting, someone approached from below. His features were somewhat similar to Chen Donghe's. He appeared to be around twenty years old but had already reached the fourth level of Fetal Breath cultivation. It was Chen Mufeng, Li Qiuyang's disciple, who had been transferred back from the market and was now assisting Li Yuanjiao.

"Young Master, Young Lady."

Chen Mufeng bowed respectfully and said, "Young Master Yuanping requests your presence; he says there's news!"

"What!"

The brother and sister were immediately overjoyed. They exchanged glances, and without another word, quickly rode the wind together towards Lijing Town.

Wutu Mountain was not far from Lijing Town. Li Yuanjiao's 'Spirit-Swallowing Incantation' had the effect of manipulating clouds and mist, and Li Qinghong's 'Soaring Sky Perilous Sparrow' also enhanced flight speed, allowing them to fly faster than ordinary Qi Condensation cultivators. The two landed one after another in the courtyard, where Li Yuanping had been waiting for a long time. He quickly went to greet them.

"Brother! Sister Hong! I've received news about Ancestor!"

Li Yuanping didn't wait for them to ask and quickly recounted the news he had received. Li Yuanjiao was initially overjoyed and repeatedly said, "Good! Good!" He secretly pondered for a moment, then asked doubtfully, "Can this news be confirmed?"

"About seventy percent..."

Li Yuanping also knew there were many doubts and replied, "Before Ancestor left, he thought it was a near-certain death, and that even surviving would be difficult. Who knew this news would be so astonishing as it spread... This doesn't seem like the work of a Foundation Establishment cultivator; it would be somewhat believable if it were a Purple Palace cultivator..."

"Slashing down a Mahā reincarnation with a sword..."

Li Yuanjiao gave a bitter laugh and replied, "Just thinking about it makes it clear it's impossible. How much difference is there between a Mahā and Foundation Establishment? Moreover, Mahā manipulates fate; if he were to die, it would be intentional... He's probably just in a hurry to reincarnate!"

Li Yuanjiao, finding humor in his distress, made a small joke. Li Qinghong, who greatly admired her grandfather, believed this news by eighty percent. A smile couldn't help but curl at the corners of her mouth, and she said softly, "It must be that Mahā suffered a loss. Since the matter is concluded and the warming jade is not shattered, we can just quietly wait for Ancestor to return."

"That makes sense..."

Li Yuanping nodded, looking at the warming jade Li Yuanjiao had shown, and slowly put his mind at ease. The few of them chatted in low voices for a bit, then Li Qinghong said, "Now that Ancestor has established his prestige, it will probably slowly spread within a few days, and they will heavily promote the so-called 'Sword Immortal Family' once more. Families from the lake and surrounding areas will come to offer congratulations and send small gifts..."

Although she said this, Li Qinghong's face showed no joy; her curved eyebrows were slightly furrowed. Li Yuanjiao and his brother also exchanged glances. Li Yuanping nodded and said, "Ancestor has not yet returned, and under such great fame, trouble is inevitable... We can only grit our teeth and accept these congratulatory gifts for now, then adapt as things unfold!"

"That's a minor matter." Li Yuanjiao, meanwhile, rubbed the shimmering, scaled Jiaopan Ying at his waist and replied, "I'm more afraid of one thing... Ancestor has slain the reincarnation of Mahā. Who knows how many Buddhist cultivators he will offend!"

As soon as he said this, both nodded with looks of dread, having evidently thought of this earlier. Li Yuanping sighed and said in a muffled voice, "It won't be long before Ancestor's renown echoes throughout Jiangnan and Jiangbei. Think of how many sword cultivators, rogue cultivators, and small Buddhist temples are along the river — there will be endless trouble!"

Li Yuanjiao looked at his younger siblings, first steadied himself, and then spoke. "Fortunately, Ancestor is fine. Let's just wait for a while."

As the few of them were chatting, they saw a person descend from the sky. Dressed in a gray robe, his face was well-proportioned, and his features were solemn and dignified, yet filled with grief. There were damp spots on his sleeves, and he was covered in dust from travel.

"Father!"

"Patriarch!"

This person was Li Xuanxuan, who had been stationed at the market. As he descended, riding the wind, the three juniors quickly bowed. But Li Xuanxuan waved his hand, took out several jade fragments from his sleeve, and said mournfully, "Xuanling... is dead!"

Li Xuanxuan's words resonated like thunder in their ears. Li Yuanping and Li Yuanjiao both turned pale. Li Qinghong, however, slowly raised her head, her face turning a mottled green-white, and staring at the jade fragment in Li Xuanxuan's hand, she murmured, "Dead?!"

Her face instantly turned ashen, as if drained of blood. Li Xuanling was her biological father, and this news shattered her heart. She simply sank down weakly, covering her face without a word.