Chapter 331: Yuan Tuan Arrives

The young Daoist priest had barely finished speaking when the magic pearl in his hand spun once, emitting a hazy gray light that rose like clouds and mist. Before either of them could make a move, the gray mist already swirled around them, enveloping them completely, isolating them from the void, and preventing others from using their divine powers to spy.

“Oh?” Jiang Boqing’s gaze lingered on the surrounding gray light for a moment, then he said softly, “I don’t know about 'A Beggar Boy's Questions Under the Mulberry Tree'… I only know Bu Zi from the Green Pond Sect… As for Xiao Chuting, he’s just a junior with some tricks up his sleeve; I’ve never even met him, so how would I know?! You, Changhuai Mountain… planning to seize an immortal scripture, and seeing my current predicament, you think I’m an easy target…?”

Jiang Boqing glared, his bloodshot eyes giving him a ferocious appearance, and said coldly, “Even a broken boat still has some valuable parts. When I, Jiang Boqing, was in my prime, you were merely a junior Daoist in the Wudu Prefecture. Aren’t you afraid I’ll turn on you and at least ruin your cultivation path?!”

“Senior, you jest,” Qing Jifang chuckled softly. Protected by the magic artifact, he wasn't afraid of being detected by the Yue Kingdom’s Purple Mansion cultivators. He then leisurely said, “Senior claims not to know Xiao Chuting, yet this slaughter in Lixia County was orchestrated by you and the Green Pond Sect. If you say you have no connection with Xiao Chuting, I find that hard to believe!”

At these words, Jiang Boqing’s expression drastically changed. Jiang Yan, standing nearby, was stunned and looked up in disbelief. Jiang Boqing, enduring Jiang Yan’s seemingly piercing gaze, forced himself to remain calm and replied, “That was a scheme by Xiao Chuting and the Green Pond Sect. I merely lent my strength…”

As a cultivator capable of reaching the Purple Mansion realm, Qing Jifang was naturally meticulous. He immediately noticed Jiang Boqing’s emotional fluctuations, and a realization dawned on him. He looked at Jiang Yan behind them and said softly, “Young man, this person used divine power to entice your father, brought disaster to kill your mother, and even refined you into a talisman. How can you still call him 'Master'?”

Seeing his feigned concern, Jiang Boqing instead calmed down and said in a deep voice, “What do you mean, fellow Daoist?”

Seeing Jiang Yan remain silent, Qing Jifang finally turned his gaze to Jiang Boqing and said softly, “I won’t argue with you, Senior. 'A Beggar Boy's Questions Under the Mulberry Tree' is an immortal scripture, and besides Duanmu Kui, you are the most familiar with it in Jiangnan. Now that Wushan is destroyed, everyone's eyes are on you. Never mind our Wu Kingdom, even two of the three True Monarchs from the Yue Kingdom are watching you. Do you truly believe you can escape?”

Qing Jifang’s voice echoed repeatedly in the air. Blood dripped from Jiang Boqing’s face as he remained silent. Qing Jifang’s words seemed to shatter Jiang Boqing’s self-deceiving fantasy, slowly making his expression turn grim.

The Purple Mansion cultivator then shifted his gaze to Jiang Yan and said in a deep voice, “A father born as Yang, a Nine-Three True Talisman; a mother dead as Yin, a Witchcraft Blood Sigil – indeed, this is an excellent physical body. If Senior is willing to come with me to the Wu Kingdom, I can spare his life and leave Senior an opportunity. We will ask about the situation of the people in the Yue Kingdom, and we only seek fragments of your memory regarding 'A Beggar Boy's Questions Under the Mulberry Tree'. Once our purpose is achieved, we will allow Senior to reincarnate.”

Qing Jifang smiled faintly and said gently, “At that time, our Wu Kingdom will have obtained the clues, while Senior will have lost your memories and your value, so you won’t have to be targeted by several True Monarchs. With this excellent physical body, you can cultivate anew in another life and roam freely through the world. Wouldn’t that be wonderful?”

Jiang Boqing stared at him coldly and replied, “I have already obtained a wisp of Golden Essence; there is no need to use divine powers to confuse me.”

Qing Jifang’s expression remained unchanged as he smiled and said, “It seems I've been showing off before an expert, but these terms were sincerely offered and remain valid.”

“Good.” Jiang Boqing hesitated for a moment, then finally replied in a low voice, “First, send this excellent physical body away.”

Qing Jifang was instantly delighted and replied, “Senior has great courage; Jifang will never break his word!” With that, he conjured a streak of colored light, which swiftly and effortlessly shot towards Jiang Yan. Jiang Yan could only resist Foundation Establishment cultivators with Jiang Boqing’s help; how could he withstand the power of a Purple Mansion cultivator? He was immediately lifted with ease.

“Wait, I’ll do it myself!” Jiang Boqing interjected loudly. Qing Jifang instantly understood, appreciating Jiang Boqing's sincerity even more, and nodded, saying, “Indeed, indeed. I won't intervene.”

At once, the gray mist parted slightly, allowing Jiang Boqing to send Jiang Yan away. Purple Mansion cultivators, when traversing the void, can cover hundreds of miles in an instant, if not thousands. With his Golden Essence, Jiang Boqing could send Jiang Yan a thousand miles away, effectively erasing his trace.

Jiang Boqing seized the colored light, activated his Golden Essence, and unceremoniously wrested control from Qing Jifang’s hand, causing the Purple Mansion Daoist priest’s eyelid to twitch.

Jiang Yan was speechless, staring silently at him. Jiang Boqing reached out and pulled open a black light, sending Jiang Yan away. Only then did he turn back and smile at Qing Jifang.

“Senior?” Qing Jifang watched him warily. Jiang Boqing glanced at him and said softly, “Changhuai Mountain has a witchcraft lineage. If you can acquire 'A Beggar Boy's Questions Under the Mulberry Tree', your True Monarch will surely advance another level.”

“So what?” Qing Jifang vaguely sensed that something was amiss. The magic pearl in his hand continuously bobbed up and down, when he saw Jiang Boqing smile and say, “Guess whether Lushui would prefer to see the immortal scripture's traces vanish, lost within the Yue Kingdom, or for the clues to be controlled by your esteemed country, leaving them constrained at every step?”

“This is bad! What madness is this?!” Witnessing Jiang Boqing’s body suddenly shatter into a scattering of flesh and blood, Qing Jifang was momentarily shocked. Without hesitation, he put away his magic pearl and prepared to flee into the void.

“Clang—” From within the shattered body, however, a wisp of golden light emerged, seemingly with eyes, hurtling towards the Purple Mansion cultivator. Immediately, a brilliant light burst forth, ten thousand frogs croaked from the mountain base, and the river water surged.

Qing Jifang’s face was filled with disbelief. As he watched the golden light strike, the surrounding void was instantly sealed by the Golden Essence. He could only exclaim sharply, “You're throwing your life away!”

November. Heavy snow.

On Wutu Mountain, the white snow lay deep. The stone table was piled high with snowflakes, and the bluestones in the courtyard were covered in white. A young man, dressed in brocade and white fur, leaned back in a mahogany armchair, holding a jade cup between two fingers, silent.

“Zhi’er,” the woman at the head of the table, with willow-like brows and phoenix eyes, dressed in red, her gaze showing weariness, said gently, “Are all the preparations made?”

“Yes,” Li Xizhi softly acknowledged, replying, “Where is Father?”

“Your father has gone to Lijing Town. The immortal master is arriving soon, and there are many things to prepare. A carriage will come for you shortly.” Xiao Guiluan sensed the grievance in his heart and offered a comforting explanation. Li Xizhi’s expression remained unchanged; he focused on the cup he held, saying softly, “Green Sprout Peak has a sparse population, yet it holds a great reputation. As the senior disciple within the peak, I fear constant trouble ahead.” He was verbally explaining his worries, but his heart was filled with bitterness that he dared not confide in his mother.

Upon hearing that Yuan Tuan was arriving, Li Yuanjiao finally showed the family’s internal records to his eldest son. Li Xizhi read the book all night, his expression changing multiple times. The entanglements between Chi Wei, Chi Zhiyun, and even Yuanwu Peak, and Li Chijin’s ultimately desolate fate, all filled his heart with gloom and left him speechless: “So many conflicts within the sect… with such a grand reputation, I fear I will become a pawn in the struggles of various factions.”

He quietly gripped the sword at his waist, put down the jade cup, and replied, “Since I am joining the sect, I can only do my best.”

While Li Xizhi was contemplating, someone from below approached. His clothes were simple, and his shoulders carried some snowflakes; he seemed to be in a hurry. He eagerly brushed the snow from his clothes, first bowed to Xiao Guiluan at the head of the table, then called out loudly, “Brother Zhi!”

Li Xizhi quickly stood up and went to meet him, replying, “Brother Cheng, why are you here?”

Li Xicheng was travel-worn, his clothes thin, without even a single ornament. He cheerfully pulled out a jade pendant from his bosom and said with a smile, “I heard you’re about to join the sect, so I found some good things for you!” He had not received a talisman seed, nor was he aware of the many family secrets. He simply believed that joining the Green Pond Sect was an unmixed blessing. He displayed the jade pendant, which shimmered with a green light, then placed it in Li Xizhi’s hand, explaining with a smile, “This is a Fetal Breath realm artifact; it has the effect of condensing spiritual energy. Consider it a gift from your older brother!”

Li Xizhi was momentarily stunned. His father was Li Yuanjiao, and his grandfather was Li Xuanxuan; they had been the heads of the Li family for generations, so he actually wasn't lacking such trinkets. However, seeing Li Xicheng’s joyous expression, he felt a pang in his heart. Li Xicheng’s father had no spiritual aperture, and his grandfather had died early, making his life more difficult. This jade pendant, to his brother, was already a rare and precious item, and he eagerly pressed it into Li Xizhi’s hand. Li Xizhi saw his simple attire, devoid of any magical glow, yet he looked at him with gentle affection. The jade pendant in his hand felt like a burning charcoal, making him feel so hot he didn’t know what to say. He managed to say with a slight catch in his voice, “Brother Cheng… you shouldn’t have!”

“Oh, come now.” Li Xicheng had been overseeing spirit rice in Shanyue for the past few months, gaining experience, and his speech had become much more generous. He laughed and said, “Your older brother now has a position in the clan and a clan stipend, so don’t be so formal with me!”

His tone was gentle, and Li Xizhi felt a pang of discomfort. He grabbed his brother’s hand, already having a belly full of words to say to him, and whispered, “I heard that Brother's expenses are insufficient, your purse is empty, and that you've half-given and half-lent the family's resources and your clan stipend to our clan brothers. Is this true?”

“Well…” Li Xicheng paused, stammering, “It’s just that I’ve been helping out the brothers… The clan has had a tough time these past few years; it hasn't been easy for anyone.”

“Sigh.” Li Xizhi didn’t know whether to laugh or cry. He put his arm around his brother, hugged him tightly in his broad embrace, and said with a smile as a reminder, “You should be more careful with your spending. Watch out, or the clan head might mark you down for extravagance and excessive generosity.”

Li Xicheng chuckled softly, unsure if he had truly taken the advice to heart. A servant from below came forward and said respectfully, “Young Master, the carriage has arrived.” Li Xizhi nodded slightly at the words. Looking at Li Xicheng’s joyful face, the bitterness that had filled his heart moments ago vanished, replaced by fighting spirit and anticipation.

Lijing Town.

Li Yuanjiao stood silently in the snow, dressed in black with his sword at his side. Snowflakes settled on him, then fell off in scattered bits. Beside him, Li Xizhi stood, lost in thought as he gazed at the horizon.

The Li family waited for a moment. Amidst the falling snow, a cultivator in green robes arrived riding a deer. Her face appeared to be in her thirties, radiant and captivating. The deer beneath her was pure white, dappled with specks of green, light and agile, with intelligent eyes. The person atop the deer, in her flowing green robes, looked like an immortal. A long, green silk ribbon was tied around her waist, fluttering in the wind. This long ribbon had intricate patterns, transparent and light, appearing to be an excellent magic artifact itself.

“People of the Li family, greetings to the Peak Master!” The Li family members greeted her respectfully. Yuan Tuan nodded with a smile. As the white deer landed, its four hooves pushed off, and it transformed into a patch of white snow, vanishing from sight.

This wondrous technique caused both the Li family members and the guest elders to pause, silently marveling. Yuan Tuan replied, “No need to be so formal.”

Yuan Tuan was close in age to Li Tongya. She had achieved Qi Condensation at eighteen, even faster than her senior brother Xiao Yuansi. However, for some unknown reason, after reaching Qi Condensation, she specialized in talismans and spirit plants, which caused her cultivation to fall behind. At that time, her master, Si Yuanbai, was imprisoned, and her fellow disciples were all in the Southern Frontier. Yuan Tuan was the only one supporting Green Sprout Peak, enduring many hardships. Fortunately, in the past decade, she had broken through several stages and achieved Foundation Establishment, making her life somewhat easier.

“Immortal Master, please come in…” Yuan Tuan nodded gently and glided lightly over the snow. The guest elders and those of other surnames withdrew, leaving only a few direct descendants and Yuan Tuan to enter. Her gaze lingered for a moment on the sword at Li Yuanjiao’s waist. She turned her head slightly, feeling a little uneasy, and said gently, “Is that the Azure Foot Sword?”

“It is!” The Coiled Dragon Pillar on Li Yuanjiao’s waist had long been replaced by the Azure Foot Sword. He had deliberately removed its outer cloth sheath, openly displaying it, a stark change from his usual low-key demeanor.

“This sword…” Yuan Tuan’s expression was somewhat complex. She whispered, “I accompanied my master to acquire it for him. At the time, the peak was financially strained, and we could only refine it into a Qi Condensation Peak-level artifact. Yet, Jin’er was overjoyed and thanked us repeatedly… I never imagined that later, as this sword accompanied him in slaying demons and monsters, and was nurtured by his sword intent, it would quietly break through and become a Foundation Establishment artifact.”

The Li family members listened in silence. Yuan Tuan raised an eyebrow, looked intently at Li Yuanjiao, and asked, “You wear this sword on your waist; are you the Li family head?”

Li Yuanjiao had rehearsed this moment many times in his mind. He respectfully replied, “Lord Chijin had no descendants, so this humble cultivator is the grand-disciple of his lineage, of the Yuan generation, named Jiao. Thus, I wear this sword.”

“Hmm, no descendants…” Yuan Tuan struggled to maintain her expression, standing still for a full two breaths. Only then, guided by Li Yuanjiao, did she ascend to the seat of honor. She silently scanned the faces of everyone present and said gently, “Why do I not see Fellow Daoist Tongya?”

Li Yuanjiao lowered his head and said in a deep voice, “The Old Ancestor is in secluded cultivation and has not yet emerged.”

“Oh.” Yuan Tuan nodded. She then saw Li Yuanjiao give a signal, and Li Xizhi, standing below, stepped forward and said respectfully, “Junior Li Xizhi, greetings to Senior!”

“Good.” Yuan Tuan finally smiled. Her spiritual sense swept over him, and she observed him for a while, carefully examining his Qi Sea Acupoint, Ascending Yang Palace, and Great Que Court. Then she closed her eyes, silent. Her closing her eyes made everyone in the hall silently tense up. Li Xizhi, in particular, forced himself to remain calm, feeling the Mysterious Pearl Talisman Seed in his Qi Sea Acupoint, his heart pounding in his chest.

After more than ten breaths, Yuan Tuan finally opened her eyes and nodded, saying, “Excellent, you should join my Green Sprout Peak!” Then, she broke into a radiant smile and said to Li Xizhi, “Good child, there’s no need to be nervous.”

At her words, everyone relaxed, finally settling down. Li Xizhi thanked her respectfully. Yuan Tuan smiled as she gazed at him, and said softly, “Look up!”

Li Xizhi and Li Yuanjiao had similar features. When he lowered his gaze, he appeared gentle and calm, but now, as he looked up, his ambitious demeanor resurfaced. Yuan Tuan chuckled softly and said, “Your countenance truly resembles yours, with quite a formidable look; capable of commanding others. You’re precisely the material for a head disciple. I hadn't expected to truly gain such an advantage.”

“He is indeed my son. Senior, you flatter him…” Li Yuanjiao responded, whispering, “It is a blessing for my Li family to be able to enter Green Sprout Peak.”

“Mm.” Yuan Tuan nodded, then asked again, “I heard your family produced a young alchemist. Is he here?”