Chapter 350: The Difficulty at Yushan

The boar demon stumbled out of the Li family’s territory, wiped the wounds on his face, and flew silently into the depths of Mount Dali. Only then did he dare to curse loudly.

“You dead dog… what a terrible idea!” he roared. “It made me take this sword strike for nothing! Thankfully, it wasn’t Li Tongya himself… What a relief, what a relief.”

He didn't dare to resent the Li family, but in his heart, he already detested the hyena who had come up with the idea in the demon cave, cursing all the way.

He rode the wind and only stopped when he reached the demon cave. A light-gray hyena rushed forward to greet him, its eyes darting around sneakily, and it squeaked, “Boar Two! What did the Li family say?”

Boar Two was just looking for trouble with him, and this demon had already run right into him. Though he was timid in front of the Li family, he still held some status in this cave. Now, his eyes bulged, and he cursed furiously, “Dead dog! Filthy dog! Get lost!”

With that, he kicked out, and the hyena, only at the initial Qi Cultivation stage, let out a miserable yelp as it was sent sprawling listlessly. Boar Two stormed into the cave, where a burly man with a bushy beard was seated.

The burly man was gulping something down, holding a piece of bloody meat in his hand. Blood dripped from his reddish-brown hair and beard, making them wet and sticky. His eyes were bloodshot as he stared at Boar Two, and he hissed, “What did Li Tongya say?”

Boar Two immediately sagged and stammered out the whole story. The demon general immediately flew into a rage, cursing, “How dare he!”

His eyes blood red, radiating demonic energy, he roared, “Spouting nonsense about demonic sects! Pretending to be some damned aristocratic family! When I ruled these mountains, that Li kid was just a garden boy! A low-level cultivator with only a few layers of Embryonic Breathing! If it weren’t for Si Yuanbai, the Li family would never have gotten anywhere!

"Now I send an envoy, and Li Tongya dares not even see him! This is too much demon-bullying! Ah!! Too much demon-bullying!”

The Foundation Establishment boar demon roared wildly, and the demon soldiers below, knowing his temper, silently huddled together, until he had kicked over tables and chairs, splattering blood everywhere, and finally caught his breath.

The gray-furred hyena, who had recently joined the cave, was the very demon who had suggested testing the Li family. Thinking himself clever, he crept forward slyly and whispered, “My King! The Li family is arrogant; why don’t we send…”

The burly man’s face turned menacing, and without waiting for him to finish, he backhanded him, sending him flying sideways. Teeth scattered across the floor, blood flowed freely, and the hyena yelped in agony.

“From now on, don’t ever mention the Li family again!”

The demon general roared, and the demon soldiers felt as if they had received a great amnesty. They all understood that their king was afraid and was burying his head in the sand. They exchanged glances, immensely relieved: “At least we won’t have to face the edge of an immortal sword anymore…”

The Li Family.

The spring breeze once again swept across the land, and the lake water turned back into a docile, pale blue. Perhaps it was the change of season, or the abundant spiritual energy watering it, but the Li family’s Wanling flower finally sprouted.

These tender green sprouts were delicate and appeared weak and listless. However, as a Foundation Establishment spiritual root, the Li family cherished it like a treasure. They watered it with spiritual spring water, carved array formations around it, and buried spiritual stones in the soil, fearing the spiritual root might wither.

Fortunately, the old monkey nearby took meticulous care of it, adjusting the soil composition and regulating the spiritual energy of the earth veins. Although the spiritual root still looked somewhat lifeless, it was growing day by day, which relieved everyone in the Li family.

Mount Lijing.

“The spiritual rice is growing quite well this year.”

Li Xuanxuan walked along the mountain path, hands clasped behind his back. Ever since the market was destroyed and he returned home, Li Xuanxuan suddenly found himself with a lot of free time. The family now had everyone in their specific roles, and no one dared to order him around, leaving him to his leisure.

Aside from his daily talisman drawing, Li Xuanxuan had nowhere else to go. He could only wander around and occasionally take his grandchildren out.

“It’s funny to think about…” he mused. “Back then, there were few cultivators in the family, and this spiritual rice was as hard as iron. Initially, ordinary people had to use axes imbued with Golden Light Art to cut it…”

Li Yuanjiao, standing nearby, nodded slightly as he listened to him ramble. Although Li Xuanxuan was his biological father, he had grown up under the care of his elder brother, Li Yuanxiu, and had little actual interaction with Li Xuanxuan.

Li Xuanxuan, due to Yuanjiao’s background, also wasn't very close to him and secretly felt guilty. Now, as he chattered idly, Li Yuanjiao actually noticed a hint of nervousness in him and remained silent, pressing his lips together.

During this life-or-death crisis, Li Xuanxuan finally broke through to the fourth layer of Qi Cultivation, something he had longed for. Now, his cultivation had once again slowed to a snail’s pace. He was now fifty-nine, and knew that once he turned sixty, his cultivation speed would decline even further. He muttered:

“With my aptitude, it will likely take more than ten years to break through one layer after sixty. I might as well take a Talisman Pill and break through to the fifth layer first… That way I won't have more trouble after sixty…”

As he was thinking this, a smiling voice called from behind him, “Grandfather! Clan Uncle!”

Li Xuanxuan turned around to see two young boys walking along the mountain path. Both looked to be twelve or thirteen years old. The one in the lead, at the third layer of Embryonic Breathing, had a beaming smile that felt like a spring breeze. He wore a brocade robe, and a green jade bead dangled from his wrist.

The one behind him had a tall and handsome figure, with a sword strapped to his back. He appeared much more reserved, and he smiled faintly as he spoke, “Xijun greets Grand-uncle, and Clan Uncle.”

“Good, good, good.”

Li Xuanxuan cheerfully took the hands of the two juniors, greeting them warmly and asking in detail about their cultivation progress. Li Yuanjiao simply watched with a smile, and the group chatted and laughed their way to the small courtyard on the mountain.

Li Yuanping was seated at the head of the table, silently opening a letter in his hand.

The Li family had received two letters this month. One was from Chen Donghe in the west, stating that demonic cultivators had also appeared in the Golden Feather Sect’s territory, and that two of the Miscellaneous Qi Mountain Yu cultivators who went with him had been killed or injured.

The Li family now had more Miscellaneous Qi Mountain Yu cultivators at their disposal, so Li Yuanping made the decision to send two more loyal ones. If it weren't for the fact that this matter should not be publicized, Li Yuanping would have wished to send even more.

The other letter was sent back by Li Xizhi from within the sect. He reported that things were going smoothly for him in the sect, and subtly mentioned that the situation at the Guanyun Peak market was complex, advising them not to investigate it closely to avoid trouble.

It also mentioned that a member of the Fei family had already joined the Yuanyou Peak sect two years ago. This Fei family member, named Fei Qingyi, was a female cultivator. Although she lacked artifact-refining abilities, her cultivation talent was good, and she was highly regarded by Yu Muxian.

“Two years ago…”

Li Yuanping sighed softly. The Fei family had shown no activity for seven or eight years, and their entry into the sect had been kept completely secret. If it weren't for the letter from the sect, there would have been no rumor on the lake at all. It seemed they feared the Li family would obstruct them, so they kept it strictly confidential.

“Ping’er!”

Seeing Li Xuanxuan’s aged face appear at the courtyard entrance, with the two youths standing respectfully to the side, Li Yuanping quickly welcomed him in and handed him the letter he was holding.

Li Yuanjiao read it intently, folded the letter, and pondered in silence. Li Yuanping then spoke, “The Fei family has been silent in recent years, and doesn’t communicate much with our family. Their disciple only cultivates on the peak.”

Li Yuanjiao nodded, only replying, “How could our family obstruct their disciple acceptance? They could just present it openly. Acting secretly only shows their own guilt. This clearly bears the mark of Fei Tongyu’s work, self-pitying and overly cautious, looking out for himself at every turn, like a white weasel busy preparing for winter.”

With that, he returned the letter to Li Yuanping’s hand and replied, “Don’t bother with him!”

Li Yuanping nodded, put it away, and smiled, “Brother’s description is quite apt.”

Li Xuanxuan, meanwhile, looked at Chen Donghe’s letter and frowned, saying, “Donghe is having trouble managing everything alone. Why don’t I go help him?”

Li Yuanping shook his head, saying, “Although that pass is large, three people gathering Qi is already the limit.”

Speaking of gathering Qi, Li Yuanping had considered sending people into the mountains to gather spiritual energy. It would take seven or eight years to obtain a wisp of Minor Pure Spiritual Qi. Minor Pure Spiritual Qi required vast mountain territories, and the Li family was conveniently backed by Mount Dali. Although they couldn't venture deep inside, they could accommodate three or four people gathering Qi simultaneously.

Minor Pure Spiritual Qi was not only useful for advancing to Righteous Qi cultivators; it was also useful for alchemy, artifact refining, and talisman drawing. Therefore, one wisp was worth about thirty spiritual stones. The only pity was that while this Qi was common, it was extremely troublesome to gather. It required spending a full seven years leaping through the mountains and forests, which delayed one’s cultivation.

“Once we have more Miscellaneous Qi cultivators, we can send them into the mountains, and that will be an additional income each year.”

Li Yuanping was calculating how much profit would remain after deducting the cultivators’ stipends and subsidies, when someone rushed up from below and said respectfully, “Patriarch! Xiao-Li Shi has returned for a family visit… but…”

“Qingxiao?! Quickly, bring her up.”

Li Xuanxuan called out repeatedly, then stopped abruptly, seeing the clan soldier’s hesitant expression. He asked doubtfully, “But what?”

The clan soldier dared not conceal anything, replying, “Madam is dressed in white mourning clothes…”

Everyone in the courtyard was startled. Li Yuanping froze for a moment, then exclaimed, “Dressed in white mourning clothes?!”

Li Yuanjiao’s expression also changed immediately, and he instantly reacted, asking urgently, “Xiao Xian? Or Xiao Jiuqing?”

The clan soldier hurried away. Everyone’s expression turned grim. Li Xuanxuan slammed his hand on an armrest and said in a deep voice, “It must be due to the demonic disaster!”

After a short wait, Li Qingxiao indeed appeared, dressed in white mourning clothes.

Now, Li Qingxiao’s face was much thinner than when she left home. Her eyebrows were faded, her lips pale, and she looked utterly exhausted. There was also a shallow scar on her wrist, indicating she had endured hardships.

When Li Qingxiao left, she was a charming young girl. In less than ten years, she returned as a delicate and pitiful woman. Her face was pale, and her eyes were red-rimmed. Upon entering the courtyard, she fell to her knees with a thud, weeping, “I beg my two clan brothers to save my family!”

She was deathly pale, and tears streamed down her face like broken pearls. Li Yuanping couldn't bear to watch, so he hurried down and reached out to help her up, but Li Qingxiao stubbornly remained on her knees.

“What happened?!”

Li Xuanxuan asked with concern in his heart. Li Qingxiao’s voice, like a cuckoo crying blood, was mournful and desolate as she lamented, “My Yushan branch, located at the northernmost point of the Xiao family’s territory, right next to the Purple Smoke Sect, had already suffered heavy losses in that demonic disaster. My husband’s clan uncles and brothers all died in battle, and not a few were injured or had their cultivation paths severed…

“Later, when the demonic cultivators advanced north towards the Purple Smoke Sect, they again passed through my Yushan territory. My husband, unaware, was with my father-in-law, cleaning up the aftermath, and they happened to run into the northbound demonic cultivators…”

Tears flowed as she spoke, her delicate fingers pressing against the stone bricks on the ground. She closed her eyes in pain and said, “When the clan went looking for them, both my father-in-law and my husband were dead, along with over a dozen other relatives—not a single body remained!”

“This!”

All the Li family members were silent in mourning. They helped Li Qingxiao up, offered some comfort, and brought her tea. But how could Li Qingxiao drink it? She said urgently, “The Jiuqing branch of Yushan is now extinct, leaving only my two boys, still in swaddling clothes… But all the male cultivators in this branch are gone. According to the rules of the Xiao family’s branches, the leadership of Yushan must be transferred to some of the clan brothers!”

Tears streaming, she said, “But before Xiao Xian died, he constantly worried about how malicious these clan brothers were. If I hand over this position, how can I face my husband? And what will become of our two children in the future!”

Upon hearing this, Li Yuanping had a faint premonition. His face paled slightly, and he took a step back, saying gently, “Sister, do you mean…”

Li Qingxiao knelt down again, her face as white as snow, her lips trembling. She found it hard to speak, whispering, “I only hope… I only hope the family can send a few loyal people to accompany me to Yushan… as long as there is enough strength to suppress the other branches of Yushan…”

“You…”

Li Xuanxuan was silent now, stumbling back, caught between a rock and a hard place. Li Qingxiao’s gaze lingered on the expressions of those present for a moment, then she lamented, “Qingxiao understands the family’s difficulties and has never troubled the family in recent years… It’s just… it’s just… I truly cannot stand by and watch the leadership of Yushan fall into someone else’s hands!”

Li Yuanjiao’s expression was grim. He stared at Li Qingxiao for a moment. After a long silence, he finally said in a muffled voice, “This is the Xiao family’s internal affair, sister! The Xiao family is an Immortal Clan of the Purple Mansion; how can our family, a mere aristocratic family, interfere!”

“Qingxiao understands!”

Li Qingxiao knelt down, weeping quietly. She eventually fell silent. Li Yuanjiao’s expression shifted, and he asked, “Is Senior Yuansi in the clan?”

“He already received orders and left for the Eastern Sea!”

How could Li Qingxiao not have thought of Xiao Yuansi? She had already sent people to look for him in the clan. She answered weakly and limply. Li Yuanjiao sighed softly, helped her up, wiped away her tears, and said in a deep voice, “Don’t worry for now. There’s always a way.”

Once Li Qingxiao was settled in her seat, Li Yuanjiao waved his sleeve and instructed, “Please invite Madam Xiao and Qinghong over.”

When Xiao Guilan and Li Qinghong arrived, riding the wind, and heard the situation, Li Qinghong gripped her spear, silent, her eyes downcast, unable to speak for a moment. Xiao Guilan, being an outsider to the direct emotional distress, was much clearer-headed. After a moment of thought, she spoke softly, “Madam, the Yushan branch had already suffered heavy damage; it should have been a time for recuperation. How could they have suddenly gone all out? Xiao Jiuqing was a shrewd man; he would never have done such a thing. Was it a task ordered by the main family?”

Li Qingxiao shook her head and whispered, “It wasn’t that my family went all out, but rather… Yushan was largely devastated after the previous demonic disaster. Countless formations were breached, and few remained intact, which is why they were killed so easily…

“My father-in-law had foresight. He found an excuse to transport supplies and sent the women and children to Xianyou Peak. That’s how I managed to escape.”

Xiao Guilan nodded silently. The Xiao family was currently in a period of recuperation. The first formations to be repaired would naturally be those of Xianyou Peak and the main branch. The Yushan branch had many complex grand formations, so it was normal for repairs there to be delayed.

She paused, her expression grave, and said in a deep voice, “Were these demonic cultivators finally annihilated by the Xiao family?”

Li Qingxiao had suffered a sudden calamity and found it hard to suppress her grief. However, she hadn't rushed back immediately. Instead, she had arranged many matters and only returned home after various attempts to seek aid proved fruitless. Now, she immediately said, “This group of demonic cultivators appeared abruptly. They entered Yushan from the mountain pass, killed people, and then left, disappearing into the north. Although the main family rushed to help, it was already too late!”