Chapter 305: Resonance (Part 1)

Li Yuanyun was only twenty-five years old and dressed in fine brocade robes. Though a mortal, he lived a comfortable life thanks to his father and siblings, having fathered three sons and two daughters, thus expanding the family line.

Li Yuanyun was among the younger members of the 'Yuan' generation, yet he looked over thirty. Compared to his siblings, who despite years of cultivation still appeared to be fifteen or sixteen, he had aged too quickly. So much so that the servants no longer called him "young master" but "old master."

Li Tongya, seated at the head, his face pale, watched his eldest legitimate grandson kneeling blankly, holding a wooden box. Though the old man's vitality was waning, his eyes were still sharp and growing brighter. His gaze lingered for a moment on Li Yuanyun's smooth, delicate hands, and he remained silent.

These hands were fair and somewhat stout; they had never wielded a blade or spear, and now even the calluses from holding a brush in his youth were gone, revealing the pampered, delicate quality of one who lives in luxury. A hint of disappointment flickered in Li Tongya's eyes, and he said hoarsely, "Yun'er, come closer."

Li Yuanyun was as cautious and fearful as a child before his grandfather. He wiped the tears from his face, carefully shuffled forward, and knelt beside Li Tongya's knees.

Li Tongya looked at him closely, finding only a trace of melancholy in his brow, the sorrow of unfulfilled ambitions, but no sign of strong vital energy or resentment. Only then did he speak: "Once you have completed your mourning period for your father, go work as an assistant in the market town."

"Yes..." Li Yuanyun dared not say more, responding in a low voice. He retreated, holding the wooden box. Li Tongya then looked at each of the younger generation's faces and said gently, "Though these injuries are severe, I can still hold on for a few more years. If we can find spiritual artifacts like stalactite essence or jade liquid, I might prolong my life for a few more years. You do not need to worry; act freely."

"Ancestor..." Li Yuanjiao offered the jade box with both hands, but Li Tongya gently pushed it away. The old man was extremely tired, but still managed a faint smile and replied, "You keep it."

He slowly stood up, untied the Qingfeng sword from his waist, and hung the Green Ruler Sword above the main seat. This Qingfeng sword, nurtured for many years, had developed its own spiritual essence, and as soon as it left his hand, it hummed with reluctance and swayed unsteadily. Li Tongya turned his head back and, still somewhat worried, advised, "Do not specifically seek out medicines for me, and even less should you consider blood sacrifices. Always think of yourselves first in all matters."

"Understood!" All the younger generation responded. Li Tongya merely stood with his hands behind his back and slowly walked out of the courtyard, treading the bluestone path that Li Xiangping had laid years ago, step by step towards the Meichi Mountain cave dwelling.

Several of the younger family members approached Li Qinghong in the courtyard to console her and discussed Li Xuanling's funeral arrangements. But eventually, each went down the mountain to attend to their busy affairs.

Summer passed into autumn, and rainfall became scarce. Li Xuanling's funeral was simply conducted on the mountain. The white mourning silk in the courtyard hung for only a few months. As Li Yuanyun went to the market town and Li Qinghong remained to guard Yuting Mountain, the white silk was quickly removed, and everything was kept simple.

The first generation of Li family elders also passed away one after another; funeral notices were heard daily. The Li family members had long grown accustomed to it. Funerals concluded hastily, some in as little as half a month, others in a few months. It was already time to harvest the spiritual rice; they were too busy to grieve.

Eastern Shanyue.

Birds chirped on Wutu Mountain. Newly polished stone benches and chairs were arranged in the courtyard. Li Yuanjiao, dressed in plain robes, sat quietly by the stone table. He set down his jade cup and said softly, "It has been a long time since I last saw you, cousin."

The middle-aged man seated below burst into laughter, his face dark, wearing a jade crown and draped in a long robe, his eyes hinting faintly at a purple hue. He smiled and said, "I heard something: that the Ancestor, on Bianyan Mountain, slew Mahā with his sword and achieved sword essence. This rumor is flying everywhere, and many have asked me to inquire about it with you, brother..."

"Oh." Li Yuanjiao chuckled softly, and with a beaming smile, gazed into the man's eyes and replied, "It is true."

"What!" Shamoli had originally worn a relaxed smile, expecting to hear the truth from Li Yuanjiao. But upon hearing the reply, he was thunderstruck, immediately sat bolt upright, and said in disbelief, "Was that... was that Mahā?!"

"It was Mahā's reincarnation," Li Yuanjiao affirmed. Shamoli nearly dropped his cup, muttering, "Even if it was Mahā's reincarnation, how could a Foundation Establishment cultivator defeat him...? Slaying Mahā with a sword... his name shaking Xuyue... Ancestor... the Ancestor is truly a divine figure!"

Shamoli's cultivation was only at the third layer of Qi Condensation; he practiced with mixed qi, so his progress was naturally slow, and Li Yuanjiao had easily surpassed him. Any small ambitions he once harbored had long since faded. Upon hearing this news, he felt honored by association, his eyes shining, he said delightedly, "Excellent!"

Li Yuanjiao's expression remained unchanged, and with a beaming smile, he raised his cup and drank with Shamoli. Shamoli was visibly excited and blurted out, "Ever since Wushan was destroyed and the various cultivators carved up Shanyue, establishing what they called Western Shanyue and other Shanyue kingdoms, none of them truly respected my Eastern Shanyue. It was clear these Shanyue Foundation Establishment cultivators held no regard for our main family! It has always bothered me, brother."

"Who knew that in the past few days, these Shanyue kingdoms all sent envoys to pay their respects, very courteously? I wondered what was going on. It turns out the Ancestor slew Mahā with his sword, and his might has awed Xuyue!"

After speaking, he took out several boxes, some made of wood, others of jade, and arranged them one by one on the table. Shamoli said gravely, "I have brought all these congratulatory gifts, and I wouldn't dare to secretly keep even a bit for myself."

"You jest, brother." Li Yuanjiao merely swept his spiritual sense over them, and the spiritual items within the boxes instantly appeared in his mind's eye. These Shanyue Foundation Establishment cultivators were all shrewd individuals who wouldn't act without seeing a benefit; the spiritual items they gave were only at the Qi Condensation level, just a token gesture. He put the boxes away.

Shamoli's reaction was within Li Yuanjiao's expectations. As cultivators, either drawn by reputation or passing through, flocked to Lijing Town to offer congratulations to the Li family, it wasn't just this Shanyue King, but several prominent families under the Li family's rule were also overjoyed and felt honored by association, which was an unexpected pleasant surprise.

As Shamoli grew older, he also became more talkative, chattering on about various minor affairs concerning the Tian family and the Shanyue nobility. Li Yuanjiao listened carefully to it all, then nodded and saw him off down the mountain.

Watching Shamoli descend the mountain and slowly depart with the Shanyue King's retinue, Xiao Guilan then gracefully emerged from the house, her phoenix eyes gently blinking, and she smiled, "This Shamoli isn't as contemptible as the rumors suggest."

Xiao Guilan had also reached peak Fetal Breath cultivation now. She cultivated the Xiao family's direct line Yanglun art, a fourth-grade cultivation technique, one grade higher than the Li family's, so her cultivation naturally progressed faster.

"He has, after all, held the king's throne for over a decade," Li Yuanjiao said softly, putting away the jade cup on the table and treating his wife much more gently. "His constant vigilance over the Tian family and the Shanyue nobles is a good thing."

Xiao Guilan chuckled softly, sat down beside him, and said tenderly, "The Xiao family also sent someone over, and my sisters, whom I know from home, were utterly astonished. The rumors were wild and varied, claiming that our family inherited the Sword Dao and possesses an immortal sword, and only whoever draws this sword can become the family head."

"They said that although your cultivation is high, you weren't recognized by that sword, so you reluctantly had to settle for being a young master, and Yuanping, despite being frail and sickly, possessed divine sword techniques..." Xiao Guilan recounted in detail, causing Li Yuanjiao to burst into laughter, and he replied, "Those rogue cultivators who practice Fetal Breath and mixed qi love to spread rumors. How could you believe such a thing?"

"Of course I don't believe it." Xiao Guilan, however, lowered her gaze and said softly, "The family has always been wary of rumors concerning the Ancestor or the family inheritance, and the Clan Governance Hall has always kept them tightly suppressed. Yet now, this matter is rampant, which makes me suspicious."

"Tell me." Li Yuanjiao's smile slowly faded. He turned his head to look at her, seeing her eyelids flutter and her phoenix eyes meet his gaze. After a few moments of mutual silence, Xiao Guilan calmly spoke, "Ancestor... is his health still robust?"