Chapter 35: Departure

Once the Serpent-Dragon Fruit had completely dissolved in the furnace, melting into a crimson medicinal liquid that floated above the alchemical fire, Xiao Yuansi took out several auxiliary ingredients and added them one by one.

He then continuously refined the mixture with the alchemical fire. After about an hour, as the mountain mist dispersed and the dew evaporated completely, eight pale red spiritual pills emerged from the furnace spout.

Xiao Yuansi performed a hand seal, and the eight pills immediately flew up, landing in his glowing palm. He then took out eight small white jade bottles, individually packaged the pills, kept two bottles for himself, and handed the rest to Li Xiangping and the other person, explaining:

"These Serpent Essence Pills must also be stored carefully in jade bottles. Only open the cork when you are ready to consume them. If not sealed properly, the medicinal properties will gradually dissipate, resulting in the wasted loss of a pill."

"If kept tightly sealed, these pills can be preserved for about twenty years, so there's no need to worry."

Li Xiangping and the other person naturally agreed and carefully accepted the pills. Li Tongya then exchanged a glance with Li Xiangping, took out three bottles of Serpent Essence Pills, and said:

"Please, Immortal Master, take these three bottles of spiritual pills to my younger brother so he can cultivate well."

"Indeed, your Li family values affection. Yuansi will certainly deliver them."

Xiao Yuansi nodded approvingly, put away the three jade bottles, and then cupped his hands, speaking with emotion:

"The Li family has only recently ascended to immortality, and your foundation is still somewhat shallow. The clan's arts of alchemy, formations, and artifact refining still need successors. You also need to actively recruit more individuals with spiritual orifices into the clan, so as not to fade away after a few generations. There are no powerful cultivation families in Lixia Dao and Guli Dao, so the Li family must seize this opportunity."

"Over the past few centuries in Lixia Commandery, countless families have risen suddenly only to vanish within a few generations. As an established family in the commandery, my Xiao family has witnessed countless cycles of prosperity and decline, of towers rising and falling. The Li family must strive harder."

Xiao Yuansi's words came from the heart, moving Li Tongya, who sighed deeply:

"Immortal Master, your words are very true. My brother and I started from scratch. Currently, there are only twenty or thirty direct descendants of the Li surname, and the collateral Ye branch barely numbers two to three hundred. Jing'er cultivates alone in the sect, and we cannot provide him with much in the way of cultivation resources."

Seeing Li Tongya's continuous sighs, Xiao Yuansi frowned slightly and said softly:

"My alchemy cultivation originated from within the sect, and I swore the Profound View Spiritual Oath. The formula for the Serpent Essence Pills cannot be divulged. You might try searching in the market; perhaps you'll find something there."

Hearing this, Li Xiangping, who had been waiting patiently nearby, quickly inquired:

"May I ask, Immortal Master, about this Profound View Spiritual Oath..."

Xiao Yuansi paused, then began to explain:

"Within clans and sects, the Profound View Spiritual Oath is used to secretly pass down cultivation techniques. The practitioner takes the Profound View Wheel as their oath. The oath is activated by their will. Should they violate it, their Profound View shatters, and their cultivation pours out like flowing water. Within a short time, they revert to being a mortal, their energy and spirit depleted, dying in accordance with the oath."

"This Profound View Spiritual Oath is indeed very useful for inheritances, but what is its value..."

Li Tongya quickly interjected, but Xiao Yuansi waved his hand, cutting him off:

"It's just a common, insignificant trick. Everyone knows it. I'll write it down for you."

He then took the paper and brush, swiftly writing it down in the time it takes to drink a cup of tea, and softly reminded them:

"However, you must note that this spiritual oath is not the clear Dao of Heaven, nor does it comprehend all things. It's suitable for safeguarding secret techniques or confidential information, but it's not very useful for preventing someone from harboring malicious intent."

"After all, even the Dao of Heaven struggles to distinguish between good and evil in humans, so what could a mere spiritual oath understand?"

"Thank you for your guidance, Immortal Master! Our Li family will remember this kindness!"

The two quickly expressed their gratitude. The heavy stone that had long weighed on Li Xiangping's heart finally lifted, and he felt considerably lighter, secretly thinking:

"With this Profound View Spiritual Oath, the final piece is in place. Once those two children cultivate the Profound View Wheel and take the oath, we can use them with confidence."

Xiao Yuansi took the reply letter from Li Xiangping, put away his alchemical furnace, summoned his flying shuttle, and chuckled:

"My junior brother has decent cultivation talent, and his bone structure is only average, but his aptitude for swordsmanship is exceptional. You truly don't need to worry."

"Everyone, may we meet again if fate allows!"

With that, he ascended onto his flying shuttle and soared into the sky amidst their thanks.

Once Xiao Yuansi was far away, Li Xiangping carefully tucked the remaining three bottles of pills into his robe and smiled at Li Tongya:

"Jing'er truly has a good senior brother."

Li Tongya nodded, and while reading and memorizing the Profound View Spiritual Oath, he handed the jade slip to Li Xiangping, signaling for him to read it.

Li Xiangping quickly took the jade slip, gently unfurled it, and upon seeing the densely packed tiny characters on it, he froze. After struggling to read a few dozen words, he whispered in astonishment:

"This is what you call not difficult?"

***

Li Xuanxuan was distracted during class, staring blankly at Han Wenxu, who was speaking eloquently on the platform.

Han Wenxu was nearly fifty, his temples gradually covered with white hair. In his twenties, he had been an apprentice at a pharmacy in the commandery. In a fit of rage, he killed someone and had to flee to the Great Li Mountain to hide. For over twenty years, he had been treating villagers and teaching children, living a rather fulfilling life.

Looking at the children diligently studying below, a smile touched Han Wenxu's face. He had no children of his own, but he had raised the Li family's children. These children, who grew up in his school, were no different from his own nieces and nephews.

"Hmm? Is it getting foggy?"

Han Wenxu looked at the thin layer of mist at his feet and pondered with some unease:

"Why would it be foggy at this time..."

Down below, the somewhat drowsy Li Xuanxuan, despite his sleepiness, had sharp eyes. He immediately jolted, tugged at the sleeve of the equally sleepy Li Xiewen next to him, and whispered:

"Brother Wen! Look outside the window."

Li Xiewen quickly looked, seeing layers of gray mist emerging outside the window. He immediately felt uneasy and replied softly:

"Brother, what's happening?"

"This mist is too strange. Our adults are at the mountain top. You and I should tell the teacher, then go up the mountain together to inform them."

Li Xuanxuan was not yet six years old, but his manner of speaking already showed the maturity of an eight or nine-year-old. His small eyebrows furrowed as he spoke gravely.

As Li Xuanxuan was speaking, his maternal uncle, Liu Linfeng, entered the schoolroom and whispered something to Han Wenxu. Han Wenxu nodded quickly and announced:

"Children, pack up all your clothes and bedding. You have three days of holiday starting today."

The two boys exchanged a look and, amidst the children's cheers, quickly went to pack their clothes and bedding.

After informing Han Wenxu, Liu Linfeng sat on the steps in front of the house, waiting for the children. For a moment, his mouth felt itchy, and he reached for the pipe in his robe.

As he looked up, he faintly noticed a shadowy figure peeking out from the mist, squatting in the woods and quietly observing.

Liu Linfeng instantly leaped up from the ground in fright, his precious pipe falling and breaking its stem. Without time to lament its loss, he tremblingly shouted:

"Who's there?!"