Chapter 347: Rui Clan

Li Xicheng wandered in the mountains for a full day. The clan soldiers complained endlessly and feigned illness to avoid moving forward. Li Xicheng continued on his own, with only just over 40% of his forces remaining. They finally reached the hills adjacent to the Li family territory.

These hills contained a spiritual beryl ore vein of the Qi-Refinement level. It was jointly controlled by five Foundation Establishment families who mined for the Xiao family. They were known as the "Five Beryl Families."

After walking a few more miles, they entered the Rui family territory, which bordered the Li family land. They saw two small spiritual fields. The remaining soldiers immediately dispersed, jumping into the fields to pull up rice plants. Only just over a hundred men remained following him.

"This is spirit rice!" Four groups of clan soldiers had passed through earlier without disturbing the spirit rice in the slightest. Now, in the blink of an eye, it was completely ruined. Li Xicheng reined in his horse, standing still, and symbolically rebuked them twice.

Although Li Xicheng cared for his clan members, often supporting them with money and provisions, his aid was primarily for those with outstanding talent. He harbored no goodwill towards these dissolute individuals who tarnished the family's reputation. He rode leisurely along the path, thinking to himself: "The lazy and foolish ones ran off along the way. Now, another batch of greedy and foolish ones has been sent away. What's left..."

As he was mentally organizing his thoughts, carrying his long spear, a contingent of soldiers approached him from the front. They respectfully announced: "Young Master, the formation has been broken. Please ascend the mountain!"

Li Xicheng nodded, observing the terrain. He urged his horse forward, wondering aloud: "Since such a large mine like the spiritual beryl ore has been cultivated here, why are the earth veins and spiritual energy so barren?"

In the Li family's territory, this kind of spiritual field would be considered too poor for even the most desperate to plant secretly. Yet, the Rui family used it to grow spirit rice, clearly showing the severe lack of spiritual energy in their domain. Li Xicheng thought to himself: "This land probably yields a harvest only once every seven or eight years, let alone once every two years! No wonder the Five Beryl Families near this mine haven't produced a single Qi Refinement cultivator in all these years."

Rui Family Peak. The grand formation on Rui Family's small peak had already been breached with a roar. It wasn't even broken by the Li family members. Chen Mufeng had merely made a few symbolic attacks and called out the Li family's name, and the opponents hastily opened the formation.

Li Xicheng remembered his family's instructions and first went to the mountain peak to examine the spiritual spring. The spiritual spring on Rui Family Peak was a clear azure, slightly chilly. Its spiritual energy content was slightly lower than that of his family's Huazhan Mountain. Unsure if it was suitable, he filled a small jade bottle and took it back for examination.

After arranging the most important matter, Li Xicheng then crunched through the snow, stepping into the Rui family's great hall.

Before him stood a young man in armor, holding a long halberd. It was Chen Mufeng. He had been waiting for Li Xicheng here since breaking through the mountain. He stood in the great hall, flanked by two rows of clan soldiers with drawn swords, exuding a chilling aura.

Chen Mufeng was Chen Donghe's nephew and Li Qiuyang's disciple and son-in-law. Although the Chen family didn't have many with spiritual apertures, those who did were exceptional. Chen Mufeng, at only twenty-seven, had already reached the fifth level of Foundation Establishment (Jade Capital Wheel cultivation). Though he had only recently broken through and his cultivation wasn't yet stable, he had the potential to reach Qi Refinement by thirty. He was immediately valued and promoted by the Li family, becoming a highly sought-after individual within the clan.

As soon as Li Xicheng entered, a group of Rui family members scrambled down, falling to their knees before him. The white-haired elder leading them held a jade seal high, bowing his head and saying: "The Rui clan respectfully welcomes the great clan general. We humbly offer the Azure Seal, willing to serve as loyal servants to your esteemed clan, perpetually at your command..."

This Rui elder appeared to be the highest cultivated individual in the Rui family, but he was only at the fourth level of Foundation Establishment, inferior to Chen Mufeng. He certainly dared not offend the Li family, who had a Core Formation cultivator overseeing them and numerous Qi Refinement cultivators. He merely held high the jade seal in his hand, inscribed with "Under the Governance of Azure Pond."

Chen Mufeng had worked as a servant in the market, and after returning home, he had led men to slaughter the Shan Yue nobles, becoming a general. His experience was rich. Watching the Rui elder's effusive display, he could tell that surrendering was something they were quite familiar with. He spoke with a hint of disdain: "You certainly have a way with words!"

"Hmm." Li Xicheng did not respond to him. He looked around, noticing two small piles of spirit rice to the side, apparently offerings. They were pitifully small, less than his own family's stipends. He merely glanced at them and moved on. However, on the ground, laid out on jade plates, were dozens of small, round, pinkish-white objects, crystal clear and seemingly quite charming. There were also five or six jade bottles, brimming with blood energy.

Although Li Xicheng had spent several years in Dongshan Yue and learned about many spiritual objects, he had little exposure to the hidden dealings of cultivators. He asked with slight confusion: "What are these things?"

The Rui elder hastily brought them over, the fleshy items appearing soft and lovely. He respectfully said: "These are called 'rice meat.' The Yu family... that Yu scoundrel, demanded these as tribute back then."

Li Xicheng watched for a moment, feeling a strange sense of unease. He waved the elder away. Chen Mufeng, who already knew, leaned in with a grim expression and whispered: "So-called 'rice meat' is cultivated from rice, referring to mortals. It should be refined using secret methods. And 'blood slices' is a euphemism for blood energy."

Li Xicheng's face turned pale, but his self-control was good, and he didn't speak. The Rui elder, seeing their expressions, immediately realized his flattery had backfired. He braced himself and said: "This humble one was unaware that your esteemed clan dislikes these items; I fear I have caused offense. Please, my lord, forgive me! My name is Rui Qiongcuo, and my ancestors... my ancestors were enlightened by the Xiao family."

Rui Qiongcuo was attempting to invoke protection, but Chen Mufeng merely glanced at him, also ignoring him.

The Rui clan and several other families around the spiritual beryl mine were enlightened by the Xiao family in earlier years to mine for them. To put it politely, they were vassals; to put it bluntly, they were mining slaves. They surrendered without shame. The Xiao family had provided no documentation, but it was naturally impossible for the Li family to annex the vassals of their own backer. Seeing that Li Xicheng remained silent, Chen Mufeng also stood still.

Rui Qiongcuo's heart pounded. After all, the Xiao family's attack was common knowledge, and he didn't know the extent of their casualties. This made the usually shrewd old man a bit uneasy. He thought: "The Li family... they are also supported by the Xiao family. Perhaps nothing will happen?"

As he was pondering, another person entered from outside the hall. The Rui elder, who had not cultivated spiritual sense, only heard Chen Mufeng, holding his long halberd, respectfully call out "Master." Knowing it was likely a Qi Refinement cultivator, he quickly lowered his head, not daring to speak.

The person who arrived was Li Qiuyang. After all, these small clans were at best Foundation Establishment cultivators, so there was no need for the Li family's direct lineage Qi Refinement cultivators to act; only Li Qiuyang and others were dispatched. Li Qiuyang tightened his robe, still covered in snow, looking thoughtful. He held a pale green, rhomboid mineral in his hand and said softly: "I was commanded by the clan to investigate the spiritual beryl mine that the Five Families jointly excavated."

"Thank you for your trouble, Elder." Li Xicheng responded, seeing Li Qiuyang's hesitant expression. He silently put away the mineral first, then spoke in a deep voice: "Since the Rui clan has joined the Li family's domain, you must abide by our rules. You should no longer use humans as spiritual materials to make 'rice meat' or 'blood slices.' Our family considers this matter of utmost importance. I urge the Rui clan not to test our laws."

This matter was inherently disgraceful, and now that Li Xicheng had stated it so plainly, Rui Qiongcuo was mortified. He stammered in agreement, inwardly lamenting: "How overbearing... When the Yu family was here, they demanded blood energy as tribute. Now that the Li family has arrived, they've banned rice meat. Truly, each aristocratic family has its own temper. But my land veins are barren; if I don't harvest some old, weak, and sick as medicine... what else can I do?!"

Although the Five Families' territory possessed valuable resources like the spiritual beryl mine, it seemed the spiritual veins and energy were all drawn into the mine itself. A vast area of their land was extremely barren due in spiritual energy, making it too difficult for the Rui family to grow spirit rice or other spiritual objects. They could only barely survive using various means...

Li Xicheng watched his subservient demeanor, organized his thoughts, and continued: "Our family head understands your situation. We are not demanding tribute for nothing. The Rui clan is permitted to send people to our Jade Court Peak territory to plant rice and learn. Our family will only collect two-tenths of the harvest as rent."

The elder froze for a full breath, the usual cunning in his eyes replaced by deep bewilderment. He looked at Li Xicheng's face and said somewhat dazed: "To Jade Court Peak, to plant rice..."

The Rui elder mumbled a few words, his eyes reddening. He quickly asked: "May I ask how much tribute your esteemed clan will demand?"

"Taking your spiritual spring water, and that two-tenths rent, will be considered your tribute!" Li Xicheng waved his hand. The Rui elder still looked disbelieving, staring blankly.

Rui Qiongcuo naturally understood how fertile the lands of aristocratic families were and how abundant their spiritual energy was. He had once harbored greedy desires. However, when he managed his family, the Ji family was at its most prosperous, and Ji Dengqi was particularly overbearing, so he had no chance to covet anything.

Later, the Ji family was gone, and the An family arrived. Then the An family left, and the Li family came. With their "White Jade Hand" and "Moon Gate Sword," they were even more powerful, capable of annihilating his family with a mere breath. As for secretly selling ore... the Xiao family's method for locating veins was profound. They knew exactly how much ore was missing from the mines and how much was handed over to his family. Once discovered, it would mean the ruin of their entire clan.

It wasn't that the Rui clan hadn't considered escaping from this impoverished place, but the Xiao family sent people to collect ore every year, so the Rui clan dared not move, only enduring year after year.

Now that hope had appeared, decades of bitterness welled up in his heart. For a moment, old tears streamed down his face as he respectfully said: "Thank you, Young Master!"

Seeing the Rui elder prostrate himself, deeply moved, Li Xicheng was slightly surprised. The command had come from Li Yuanping, and Li Xicheng hadn't thought so deeply about it. The Li family was short on manpower, and there were large unoccupied spiritual fields below Jade Court Peak. It was merely the difference between letting them lie fallow and renting them out.

"That's enough." The Rui elder had become a kowtowing bug. Li Xicheng ordered someone to help him up. The old man's face was streaked with tears, clearly genuinely moved.

The Rui clan's gratitude was of little use to the Li family, but Li Xicheng had a kind disposition. Seeing the elder's moved expression, he felt very pleased and offered some words of comfort. Meanwhile, Tian Zhongqing had also arrived with his people.

The Pu clan also expressed immense gratitude and sent two Foundation Establishment cultivators. "Then let's return home." Li Xicheng settled everything, repeatedly warned the Rui clan, and transcribed a copy of the Rui clan's cultivation methods. Upon examination, they were indeed common techniques that his own family already possessed. They then had no choice but to return to their clan.

This expedition felt somewhat like a lot of thunder but little rain. In just one day, two families were secured, and they returned victorious. The Li family acquired the Rui and Pu clans, both adjacent to their territory, as vassals. By binding them through land leases, the connection was much stronger than typical tributes.

Li Xicheng returned with just over a hundred men. The Jade Court Guard executed over a thousand soldiers for disrespecting military and clan laws. The rest were stripped of their clan names and banished to the Shan Yue region. The clan was thoroughly cleansed.

These charges were firmly established, allowing Li Yuanping not only to avoid wrangling with the clan elders and uncles but also to use the opportunity to rectify the family's conduct. With this major task concluded, his steps became noticeably lighter.

"However, these clan elders and uncles are not foolish; they've likely seen through it. My reputation will inevitably suffer a bit." Li Yuanping heard some complaints but paid them no mind. After spending a few days appeasing the clan elders and uncles, he put the matter out of his thoughts.

Sitting by a large desk, Li Yuanping picked up a small letter and frowned.

This letter was written by An Zheyan, who was stationed on Huazhan Mountain. The Rui family's spiritual spring water had already been sent there, contained in seven or eight jade bottles. However, the old monkey resolutely threw each one outside the cave.

An Zheyan chattered and gesticulated with the old monkey like a monkey himself for a long time before he finally understood. The old monkey conveyed that the Rui family's spiritual spring water was too cold and contained a "gold poison." If it were poured on the spiritual root as is, it might destroy it.

"What?!" Upon hearing this news, Li Yuanping immediately broke out in a cold sweat. He silently celebrated, thinking that if it weren't for the old monkey's vigilance, this Foundation Establishment-level money tree would have been wasted in vain. He mentally credited the old monkey for its contribution. While considering whether to send someone to investigate the spring water, Li Yuanping summoned Li Qiuyang, who claimed to have important matters to report.

Li Qiuyang, with a serious expression, took out a pale green mineral from his storage bag and said in a low voice: "Reporting to the family head, we have examined the minerals that the Five Beryl Families claim to be spiritual beryl ore and brought back samples." After speaking, he handed over the mineral. Li Yuanping took it and saw that it was strikingly pale green, with a golden gleam. This mineral was a Qi Refinement-level spiritual object, potentially harmful to the human body, so Li Qiuyang had already sealed it with a spell, fearing it might harm Li Yuanping.

Li Yuanping couldn't make anything of it. Li Qiuyang stated solemnly: "This is not spiritual beryl. It is Verdant Essence Copper, originally a very rare spiritual object. Your subordinate learned of it during a casual conversation with a Xiao family cultivator." "Verdant Essence Copper is a Qi Refinement-level spiritual object and requires Foundation Establishment cultivators to mine it. This substance is cold and harsh, extremely damaging to the body. Mining it before breaking through to Qi Refinement hinders one's path and lifespan, making future breakthroughs increasingly difficult." "The Five Beryl Families have been mining it for years without knowing. The copper essence also contaminates spiritual fields and harms spiritual objects. The reason the entire Five Beryl Families cannot grow much spirit rice or spiritual objects is because of this."

A chill ran down Li Yuanping's spine, and he suddenly understood. He put down the copper essence and nodded, saying: "So that's it... No wonder the Five Beryl Families have remained at Foundation Establishment for so many years, with barely any Qi Refinement cultivators emerging. No wonder the Xiao family enlightened other clans: firstly, the Azure Pond Sect strictly forbids connecting peaks across counties, fearing it would provoke them; secondly, they were reluctant to send their own people to mine it."

After a moment of thought, Li Yuanping's previous doubts were explained. He murmured: "No wonder that spring water has 'gold poison'; it was probably contaminated by the Verdant Essence Copper."

Feeling much relieved, he asked: "Have the cultivators from the Rui and Pu families been settled?"

"Yes, they have been settled. Land has been allocated for them at Jade Court Peak to plant spirit rice."

Li Yuanping picked up a vermilion brush, wrote a few words on the small letter from An Zheyan, handed it to him, and said softly: "Please trouble Clan Uncle to deliver this to Wutu Peak."