Chapter 327: After the Matter

Li Yuanjiao then put away his jade seal. Just then, a streak of light appeared in the distance, approaching quickly. A man and a woman, riding a flying shuttle, landed nearby. Several green-clad cultivators immediately took to the air on their own shuttles, forming hand seals, and collectively called out, "This is the Azure Pond Cloud Ship. Identify yourselves!"

The woman, riding her flying shuttle, furrowed her brow slightly and did not stop. She simply flew around the cultivators. The spiritual light unleashed by the green-clad disciples was deflected by several talismans she instantly cast, causing them to fall heavily to the ground.

These green-clad disciples were outer sect members of the Azure Pond Sect, merely a step above common laborers, and all were Embryonic Breath cultivators. Yet, she had easily bypassed them. She leaped off her flying shuttle and landed breathlessly beside Li Yuanjiao, exclaiming urgently, "Brother!" "Qingxiao?!"

Li Yuanjiao immediately froze, utterly astonished. The female cultivator before him, her face slightly flushed, was only at the third level of the Embryonic Breath stage. Yet, she stood behind him, her hand resting on her sword, staring intently at the figures in the field. It was indeed Li Qingxiao.

A realization dawned on Li Yuanjiao; Li Qingxiao had returned to offer her support. He was deeply moved, yet a flicker of annoyance crossed him as he whispered, "Why were you so reckless?!"

The man behind her hurried forward, gently pulling Li Qingxiao behind him. He cleared his throat awkwardly and spoke in a humble tone, "I am Xiao Xian of the Xiao family… Greetings, esteemed envoy of the Immortal Sect. My wife is unfamiliar with proper conduct and has caused offense. Please, we beg your understanding, your understanding..."

"It's nothing," Yu Muxian replied, his gaze lingering on Li Qingxiao and Xiao Xian for a moment. "I shall not disturb your gathering. Please, continue as you were."

"Many thanks, esteemed envoy. Yuanjiao bids you farewell." Li Yuanjiao gave a subtle, concealed glance at Yu Muxian's robes before responding. Li Qingxiao, still somewhat bewildered, was about to speak, but a glare from Li Yuanjiao instantly silenced her.

The Li family members, as if granted a great reprieve, all took to the air. Li Qingxiao and Xiao Xian, not yet having reached the Qi Condensation stage, used their flying shuttles to keep pace with Li Yuanjiao.

After only a few miles, Li Qingxiao grumbled, "Brother, you kept such a significant matter from me! I only learned of it through family news. Did Yu Muxian... cause any trouble for our maternal family?"

"No, he did not," Li Yuanjiao replied, shaking his head and completing his explanation. He then cupped his hands towards Xiao Xian, saying, "My sister is impetuous; she has caused you trouble, fellow Daoist!"

"It's no trouble at all!" Xiao Xian quickly waved his hand in dismissal. "I am merely an Embryonic Breath cultivator, possessing no great abilities. It is only the name of the Lixia Xiao family that carries some influence. This matter wasn't Qingxiao's impulsiveness alone; I, Xiao Xian, had also considered it."

Li Yuanjiao watched Xiao Xian defend Li Qingxiao and thought more highly of him. Li Qingxiao, however, paid no mind to the two men's polite exchanges. She nodded thoughtfully and said, "I heard that Yu Muxian is True Person Yuanwu's treasured son-in-law and generally doesn't involve himself much with the Yu family. From what I've seen today, he truly seems to be heartless and ungrateful..."

Li Yuanjiao nodded slightly, still pondering the jade buckle. Beside him, Xiao Xian hesitated briefly before whispering, "Not necessarily... I have a clan uncle who was very close with the Yu family years ago and met the current generation of their family."

Xiao Xian shook his head, finding it difficult to articulate, as the matter touched upon the Xiao family's past efforts to support the Yu family, making him hesitant to speak. However, seeing both Li Qingxiao and Li Yuanjiao looking at him, he had no choice but to continue: "My clan uncle's exact words were: 'The Yu family has worthy successors! Mu Gao is prudent and strategic, Mu Yuan is intelligent and courageous, Mu Jian is pure-hearted and dedicated, and Mu Xian is refined and magnanimous. In the future, with Mu Xian leading, Gao, Yuan, and Jian will be his loyal supporters, bringing glory for generations. Who could possibly stand against them?'"

He paused, a little embarrassed. Now, with Yu Muyuan dead, Yu Muxian showing ingratitude, and Yu Mujian having left home, only Yu Mugao was left struggling to maintain things. This prompted Xiao Xian to inwardly lament, "Those words were so authoritative! No wonder my clan uncle hasn't returned home in years; he must be afraid of becoming a laughingstock..." He mulled it over silently before saying aloud, "Listening to that, Yu Muxian shouldn't appear so ungrateful."

Li Qingxiao, deep in thought, spoke up, "Who knows? Perhaps he's afraid not to appear ungrateful, to gain trust, or perhaps..." Her voice became faint as she whispered, "What kind of divine ability did Tang Yuanwu inflict upon him, or what spell did he implant in his mind? I've heard that Violet Palace divine abilities are the most enigmatic. It's even plausible he's been possessed by some ancient Azure Pond patriarch."

At her words, both felt a chill run down their spines. After a moment of silence, Xiao Xian softly cautioned, "Given that he is True Person Yuanwu, it's best not to refer to him by his name."

Tang Yuanwu had been a Violet Palace cultivator for many years. He established Yuanwu Peak, then entered secluded cultivation to refine his second divine ability, passing the Peak Master position to his son.

Tang Yuanwu's son governed the peak for many years, cultivating to the peak of the Foundation Establishment stage. It was only when he failed to break through to the Violet Palace stage during secluded cultivation a few years ago, resulting in his death, that Tang Yuanwu emerged to assume leadership of the peak.

Xiao Xian clarified the entire sequence of events, explaining, "Yu Muxian also married Tang Yuanwu's daughter, and he is quite renowned within the sect. It's likely that in just a few years, he will be regarded as the Peak Master of Yuanwu Peak!"

Understanding dawned on Li Yuanjiao. No wonder Yu Muxian was so intent on stabilizing the situation around the lake; he was clearly preparing to become a Peak Master. Li Yuanjiao nodded subtly. The group then landed in front of the Li family's mountain residence, where Li Yuanping was already waiting in the courtyard.

"Ping-di!" Li Yuanping was slightly taken aback to see her, then joyfully exclaimed, "Sister Qingxiao!"

Li Qingxiao had been married for several years and was well-accustomed to life with the Xiao family. She now carried herself with an elegant, noble bearing. Though her features were ordinary, her luxurious attire so transformed her that Li Yuanping paused in surprise before finally recognizing her.

Li Qingxiao first exchanged a few pleasantries, then smiled, "I haven't seen our parents in several years either. I'll first take my husband to pay our respects to the elders, and then I'll come down the mountain to speak with Second Brother in detail."

"Certainly," Li Yuanjiao replied with a slight nod. He waited for Li Qingxiao and her husband to ascend the mountain before hurrying into the main hall, where he whispered, "Has there been any unusual activity at home?"

Li Yuanping nodded calmly, replying, "Ximing, Xizhi, and Xijun all reported strange visions. I questioned them carefully, and they all described seeing a person in white holding a jade buckle..."

Initially, Li Ximing had been cultivating with Li Yuanping in Lijing Town. Li Xizhi, who was soon to enter the Azure Pond Sect, had been spending more time with their mother. However, all the children had already been summoned back by Li Yuanping and hidden away on the mountain.

Li Yuanping, not having received the spiritual inscription, hadn't felt its full impact, but Li Yuanjiao had experienced it profoundly. He immediately shook his head and said gravely, "This is... an anomaly of the Immortal Mirror." "To the mountain!"

Lijing Mountain.

The two quickly dismantled layer after layer of magical formations and hurried into the courtyard. Before them, the garden was lush with verdant plants, radiating a delightful vitality under the golden sunlight. It was a scene brimming with life.

They swiftly reached the ancestral hall and pushed open the thick stone door. White currents of energy immediately surged out, knocking them back a step and causing a profound chill to spread through their bodies.

The currents swirled through the courtyard for a moment, knocking down flowers and leaves. Lush green branches withered to a dusty yellow, and a shower of dead leaves rustled down. In an instant, the springtime vitality of the courtyard transformed into a desolate autumn, shrouded in an eerie chill.

Li Yuanjiao stepped into the secret chamber and was immediately astonished. Inside, five or six small osmanthus trees stood, while several snowy white jade rabbits and yellowish-green toads hopped about on the ground.

Osmanthus petals lay scattered across the floor, and white moonlight permeated the air. A greenish-gray mirror floated suspended, casting down long, ribbon-like streams of spiritual light, radiating an overwhelming power.

"This..." Li Yuanjiao carefully navigated around the rustling toads and jade rabbits on the floor, then approached the stone platform and respectfully declared, "Li family disciple offers greetings to the Immortal Mirror!"

Perhaps his words had an effect, or perhaps as the Cloud Ship of Radiant Light slowly departed, returning to the Azure Pond Sect in the south, the brilliance on the mirror's surface gradually dimmed, yet it remained intensely dazzling.

Li Yuanping, being only at the third level of the Embryonic Breath stage, couldn't even enter the secret chamber amidst such overwhelming power. It was only after the radiance subsided that he slowly crept in, still feeling a biting cold.

"Boom!" Instantly, all the various phenomena within the secret chamber erupted, transforming into dense moonlight. Like wisps of pure white cloud, it rapidly spun around Li Yuanjiao, who was kneeling in the center, and coalesced into a jade buckle before him.

Li Yuanjiao prostrated himself before the stone platform, watching the moonlight condense before him, transforming into a crystal-clear jade buckle. With a solemn expression, he stated gravely, "Li family disciple, Li Yuanjiao, has received the decree..."

The brilliance above slowly receded, transforming back into the dim, unlit mirror. The white moonlight flowed back into the mirror's surface along the stone platform. Li Yuanjiao bowed once more, then finally stood up.

The two bowed and exited the secret chamber, and the stone door silently sealed behind them. Li Yuanping said gravely, "Brother! Yu Muxian is a Foundation Establishment cultivator, and an Azure Pond Sect one at that... This matter requires long-term deliberation."

"I understand that," Li Yuanjiao said, narrowing his eyes and speaking in a low voice. "Furthermore, I suspect Yu Muxian also gained some benefit from that jade buckle. He constantly keeps it hidden in his sleeve, occasionally touching it. His rapid cultivation and ability to display such talent on Yuanwu Peak are likely inseparable from this treasure."

"That makes it even more difficult!" Li Yuanping shook his head, stating gravely, "First, we should send Xizhi into the sect to gather information. As long as that jade buckle remains in his possession, there will always be a way."

Li Yuanjiao nodded as he exited the courtyard. Li Yuanping continued, "As for the Golden Sun Brilliant Essence matter brought up recently, it's of great importance, concerning our future prospects, and will take a considerable amount of time. We'll need a trustworthy and capable Qi Condensation cultivator to go and gather the Qi!"

"Are you suggesting...?" A name came to Li Yuanjiao's mind. He exchanged a glance with his younger brother and asked, "Uncle Chen Donghe?!" "Exactly!"

Li Yuanping pursed his lips and replied, "West of Wangyue Lake's western bank lies the territory of the Golden Feather Sect, which contains several vast deserts. We can send someone there to search. If there aren't any thousand-mile passes, we might have to head north."

"You arrange it, then." Li Yuanjiao trusted him completely, but as he observed his brother's pale complexion, he frowned and said, "Why does your health seem to be deteriorating? There are many family matters, but you can let Xicheng gain some experience, and please consume more spiritual items. There's no need to push yourself so hard."

"Haha," Li Yuanping shook his head. "My spiritual root is flawed, like a large jar with a leaky bottom. No amount of spiritual items will truly help. Simply maintaining my current cultivation level without regression has already consumed a significant amount of them."

As they spoke, the two arrived at the small courtyard at the foot of the mountain and sat down, one after the other. Li Yuanping waved his hand, steering the conversation away from himself. "As for Xicheng," he continued, "he's too soft-hearted, dull, gentle, and meek. He's well-liked by the younger members of the clan, but he's simply not suited for managing household affairs."

"A few days ago, I assigned him several tasks, but he was too impressionable and indecisive. I had no choice but to send him to manage the spiritual rice fields in Shanyue instead."

Although Li Yuanjiao trusted him considerably, Li Yuanping seized the chance to thoroughly explain the situation, lest his brother think he was being unduly harsh on the eldest son of the secondary lineage. After hearing him out, Li Yuanjiao picked up the tea on the table and replied, "It's no big deal. I think Xijun appears quite clever, and both he and Ximing are promising. There's no need to be too strict with Xicheng."

In his earlier years, Li Yuanjiao had been fiercely cruel and excessively bloodthirsty. However, the torment of his elder brother's sudden demise and his grand-uncle's peaceful passing had significantly mellowed his disposition, making him far more composed.

He set down his cup and finished recounting the details of Yu Muxian's visit. Li Yuanping sighed, "Now that the Fei family disciples have entered Yuanwu Peak, they are at least junior disciples within Yu Muxian's lineage, perhaps even his direct disciples. The Fei family... will likely no longer be as unified with us as they once were."

"More than that..." Li Yuanjiao shook his head, preparing to reply, but a woman in elegant attire entered from outside the courtyard and spoke softly, "Brother, Ping-di."

Li Qingxiao had just come down from the mountain, having already met several juniors of the 'Yuan' generation. She then inquired about the family's situation, and Li Yuanping explained everything in detail, saying softly, "The family has been prospering these past few years, and the Old Ancestor has also achieved enlightenment and is in secluded cultivation. You can rest assured, there's no need to worry."

"Alright," Li Qingxiao said, her eyes slightly red and her posture showing a hint of reluctance. Softly, she continued, "Xiao Lang's clan duties have concluded these past few years, and we were preparing to depart for Yushan. However, upon hearing of this matter, I hurried here. I cannot stay long now, so I must hastily bid farewell to our parents."

"Yushan is quite a distance from Wangyue Lake, so if anything were to happen at home, I might not be able to return in time again." She bowed gracefully and said, "For our parents at home, I must trouble you, Brother and Ping-di, to look after them. Qingxiao offers her deepest gratitude!"

"Go, and set your mind at ease," Li Yuanjiao said, stepping aside to avoid receiving her bow. He shook his head gently and whispered, "In Yushan, focus on assisting your husband and don't worry about matters here at home, lest others speak ill... When you have children in a few years, bring them back for your brother to see."

"Yes!" Li Qingxiao softly affirmed, then, with Xiao Xian, soared away on her flying shuttle. Li Yuanjiao then turned his attention back to Li Yuanping and said, "In a few days, I will also return to Wutu Mountain for secluded cultivation. I estimate Qinghong will have also emerged from her seclusion by then. While she consolidates her cultivation, feel free to seek her out for any matters."

"Yes..." Li Yuanping replied. Li Yuanjiao then calculated the time and said gravely, "Tell Qinghong to meet me in the mountains three months from now, on the Jihai day. I will return home for a visit."

Li Yuanping was momentarily taken aback, unable to fathom the significance of such an important event, as the time for the ancestral rites was still far off in winter. He couldn't help but ask, "This is...?" "It's been five years," Li Yuanjiao sighed softly, his lips barely moving as he transmitted his voice to Li Yuanping's ear with spiritual energy: "The Old Ancestor's life jade shattered five years ago. Following his venerable instructions, we must now breach the entrance to the Meichi Mountain cave dwelling to respectfully receive his immortal remains."