Chapter 368: Depriving of Honor

A streak of light emerged from Xianyou Peak, shuttling through the wind. Li Yuanjiao bid farewell to the Xiao family, picked up Li Ximing, and floated leisurely back home.

A strong wind cut through the air. The young man stood with his hands behind his back, dressed in a Taoist robe with a medicine pouch at his waist, overlooking the mountains below. In front of him, Li Yuanjiao, clad in a black robe, silently rode the wind and said in a deep voice:

"Only one set of Golden Sun Radiant Essence has been gathered. Xijun has already decided to take the Cold Pine Snow Qi."

"My younger brother has made a sacrifice."

Li Ximing's robe fluttered. He nodded slightly, caressing the Jade Bead Qingxuan in his hand. His lips were downturned, as if burdened by many worries, and he showed little expression.

Li Yuanjiao was prone to suspicion. At Li Ximing's single expression, his mind had already gone through several turns, feeling uneasy and unable to fathom his thoughts. He flew on in silence.

The two remained silent throughout the journey, until Lijing Mountain appeared below them.

Li Ximing had been away for several years, yet the mountain below still looked quite familiar to him. Once they entered the cave dwelling, Li Yuanjiao handed him the jade box containing the Golden Sun Radiant Essence and the Talisman Pill.

"You can get the 'Golden Hall Radiant Essence Art' from your father."

Li Ximing nodded in assent and said respectfully:

"Ximing will certainly not fail your trust!"

He slowly stepped back. Li Yuanjiao remained seated blankly at the head of the room, his eyebrows fiercely furrowed. After a long while, he let out a sigh of relief, his expression softening, and he murmured:

"They've grown up... all grown up... Even in front of family, they don't show their emotions. I can't see what you're thinking, can't tell what you're planning. How can I entrust the Li family to you!"

"As children, Ximing seemed amiable while Xijun was aloof. But now that they've grown up, both are inscrutable... Ironically, Xijun seems more personable."

Li Yuanjiao and Li Yuanping had discussed the Xiyue generation many times:

"In terms of temperament, Li Xijun was the most outstanding. While Li Ximing was also good, he was always inexplicably proper and conventional, without any remarkable achievements, sometimes even a bit dull."

If not for Li Ximing's superior talent, his alchemy aptitude, and his origin from the elder branch, the two had seriously considered entrusting the Li family to Li Xijun.

However, after much deliberation between the two, and seeing the good relationship between the brothers, along with Li Ximing's gentle and receptive nature, they decided that with them supporting each other, Li Ximing was still the one.

Now seeing him like this, Li Yuanjiao assumed he had been away for a few years and was no longer close to his family. He removed his black robe, feeling only fatigue. He glanced into the small well inside the cave dwelling:

The clear, rippling water reflected a pair of fierce eyes. The narrow space between his eyebrows made him look as if he wanted to devour someone. Li Yuanjiao squinted and watched for a while, then suddenly thought to himself:

'When I was young, Father disliked me the most,' he mused. 'He must have seen this look and felt intimidated!'

He glanced indifferently, sat cross-legged, and began to cultivate on his own.

Li Ximing, on his end, descended the mountain and walked in silence for a while. The spiritual energy on Lijing Mountain was far inferior to that of Xianyou Peak. Calculating his age, he was already sixteen.

'Fetal Respiration fifth layer,' he thought. 'After taking the Talisman Pill, it will be Fetal Respiration sixth layer. It will take two or three years to break through, reaching Qi Condensation at eighteen.'

Xiao Yuansi had also reached Qi Condensation at twenty, but only broke through when he was nearly sixty. Li Ximing understood perfectly why his progress had been so slow after Qi Condensation:

'It was simply because the Xiao family needed him to refine pills.'

Xiao Chuting, the old ancestor of the Xiao family, was also a Foundation Establishment alchemist back then. Even with him there to support, Xiao Yuansi was still dragged down to such an extent. It was precisely because Xiao Yuansi was a gentle and upright gentleman that he honestly continued refining.

'What about me?' he wondered. 'I'm the only one in the family. If the pill-making fire ignites, driven by profit, even if the family cares about me, there won't be much time for cultivation... what's more...'

He had just broken through to the Jade Capital realm, able to ignite the pill fire and refine pills, and the family's letter arrived right after. Li Ximing desperately didn't want to be suspicious, but his heart ultimately grew cold.

He walked slowly for a while and saw someone already waiting ahead, standing with a sword in his arms. With a handsome face, sharp eyebrows, and bright eyes, it was naturally Li Xijun.

Li Xijun had already taken the Talisman Pill and condensed the sixth cycle of Fetal Respiration, so his strength was a notch higher than Li Ximing's. He approached, still holding his sword, and said softly:

"Brother, it's rare for you to return home. Why the worried look?"

Li Ximing stared at him blankly, then suddenly took out the jade box with golden flowing patterns from his storage bag and handed it to him, saying as if a weight had been lifted:

"You should take this!"

"Golden Sun Radiant Essence?!"

Li Xijun was stunned, speechless for several breaths, then he finally cursed:

"Li Ximing! What's wrong with you?!"

Li Ximing seemed much more relaxed and replied:

"I've thought a lot about this. The family needs a supply of pills, and I'll ultimately have to spend time on alchemy. If that's the case, wouldn't it be a waste of this fourth-grade cultivation technique?"

"How about I give this opportunity to you? I'll use a slightly inferior cultivation technique and focus solely on alchemy from now on. Maintaining the family's stability will be up to you."

He paused and continued:

"I've seen many clan alchemists who often get sidetracked by alchemy. Foundation Establishment is always rare for them. It's better to be like our Grandfather, who specialized in talisman drawing and no longer hoped for Foundation Establishment breakthroughs..."

Li Xijun sneered and replied:

"You certainly know how to make comparisons!"

He was furious:

"Our Grandfather had no hope of advancing, that's why he specialized in talisman drawing! But you, on the other hand, your talent is clearly higher than ours, yet you talk about specializing in alchemy!"

"Can a Qi Condensation alchemist and a Foundation Establishment alchemist be the same?!"

Li Xijun gritted his teeth and said bluntly:

"You're just afraid! Li Ximing! How much hope has the family placed on you, thinking you would be someone like Xiao Chuting? But you're so hesitant, still thinking of an escape route for yourself!"

Li Ximing was slightly stunned by his shout, his face slightly flushed, and he retorted:

"Yes, what if I am thinking of a way out? Everything falls on me, everyone expects things from me. It's easy for you to say—do you really think everyone is like Xiao Chuting? Cultivating rapidly on one hand and having profound alchemy skills on the other? How can there be such a good thing in this world!"

"I'm only afraid that if I focus on alchemy, I'll neglect my cultivation, and when it comes to Foundation Establishment, I'll fail and die, wasting this excellent spiritual energy of heaven and earth for nothing! It would be terrible even just to be a Qi Condensation alchemist."

Li Xijun let out a breath, stuffed the Golden Sun Radiant Essence back into Li Ximing's arms, and said in a deep voice:

"Fine! Then come up the mountain with me and explain this matter yourself. Let our uncle make the decision!"

Li Ximing, holding the jade box, collapsed and sat down dejectedly, finally falling silent. Li Xijun also let out a long breath, slowly sat down beside him, and said gently:

"Brother, you don't need to worry so much..."

"How can I not worry!"

Li Ximing caressed the jade box on his lap, his voice faint, and he said softly:

"Our great ancestor, a mere mortal, achieved Foundation Establishment in twenty years. Our great-grandfathers, the Three Dukes, were all heroes. Every time I read the clan history, I feel as if they were divine beings, it's hard to believe."

"As a child, I always heard elders discuss that you were most like our ancestors: calm and composed, thorough in your considerations, never changing your expression, and unswayed by killing."

Li Ximing raised his head and replied:

"I also learned to appear calm and composed, but in the end, I merely 'drew a tiger but ended up with a dog.' You are truly confident, while I'm just 'a fox assuming the tiger's might'..."

He said in a low voice:

"When I was ten, Father told me to kill someone, and I did. I knew well what Father wanted me to be, but secretly, I trembled and couldn't speak, not daring to show it."

"Later, when I went to the Xiao family, several times descending the mountain, I was also led astray by various pleasures and temptations, which prompted Master Xiao to admonish me multiple times... I thought I was a Li family member and wouldn't be tempted by such things, but..."

Li Ximing said in a muffled voice:

"Actually, I fear the Clan Enforcement Hall, afraid of implicating Father's reputation. With the elders at home watching, I act properly. If I could do it without anyone knowing, I wouldn't be able to resist the temptation."

His expression was somewhat flustered and panicked.

Li Xijun was stunned, his expression changed drastically, and he finally couldn't help but interrupt him, asking urgently:

"You... you lost your primordial yang?! That was the Xiao family! The Xiao family! Our fathers guarded against it painstakingly, calculating every possibility, and you actually..."

"Did you leave any descendants?!"

Li Ximing silently shook his head, tears already streaking his face, and replied:

"I don't know."

"You don't know?"

Li Xijun suddenly stood up, his expression complex. He grabbed Li Ximing's sleeve, unsure what to say, then forcefully flung it away and said coldly:

"You don't know?! No wonder... No wonder!..."

Li Ximing suddenly looked up, as if kicked without reason, and said urgently:

"Xijun! I... I am... No, listen to me."

He scuffed his feet on the ground twice, stood up, losing his composure for a moment, and started to ramble defensively:

"I've talked with Brother Cheng many times. We are different from you. Many of the things I say to Father were taught to me by Mother and First Madam. I am not the talent to revive the Li family... No... not really..."

Looking at the silent Li Xijun in front of him, Li Ximing felt both regret and fear. He thought to himself:

'Alas, it's good to confess! Better than pretending like this forever...'

"You!"

Li Xijun looked at his expression, suddenly remembering the night they talked freely about clan affairs on the mountain years ago. As he carefully recalled, he realized that the other always cunningly agreed with him, always appearing to be on good terms as brothers. He had never noticed it.

"No wonder you tried so hard to drink. I thought it was your first time and you couldn't hold your liquor, but it turns out you were trying to get drunk quickly to avoid giving yourself away."

"You should never have been sent to the Xiao family!"

Looking at Li Xijun's expression, Li Ximing suddenly calmed down as if relieved, waving his hands repeatedly. The Qingxuan on his wrist jingled wildly as he said softly and calmly:

"Xijun... not everyone possesses your grace."

Li Xijun closed his eyes and remained silent, appearing somewhat cold. After a long while, he said:

"Don't quibble. Come up the mountain with me and report everything that happened here. Let the clan decide."

"Alright."

Li Ximing uttered a single word, but then took a heavy punch to the face, seeing stars. His robes and crown were torn off with a rustle, leaving him disheveled and utterly humiliated.

The jade crown shattered into pieces on the ground, along with his medicine pouch and storage bag, which rolled around, leaving only a thin white undergarment on his body.

Li Ximing recovered a little, touched the tip of his nose where blood was flowing freely, and then heard Li Xijun say coldly:

"His robes and crown are stripped, awaiting punishment!"

"Buzz..."

The golden bowstring trembled slightly. The middle-aged man's large hand held a longbow covered in mysterious runes, his long arm relaxed at his side.

The hawk-beast in the distance struggled in a pool of blood; its internal organs had long been shattered by the impact. The two people behind him approached fawningly and flattered:

"General, you truly live up to your name as the Golden Geng Steel String. That arrow was truly a glorious golden rainbow, arriving in an instant..."

Both of these individuals were from the Ning family, arranged by Ning Hejing. Li Xuanfeng listened silently. Only when the cultivators below dragged the demonic beast over did he say in a hoarse voice:

"It's merely flattery from idle flatterers. No need to mention it again."

The two's flattery had fallen flat. They could only chuckle awkwardly and change the subject, looking at the person below who brought up a demonic hawk egg, and said:

"Congratulations, General! This Foundation Establishment demonic beast actually laid an egg!"

Li Xuanfeng casually took it, rode the wind, put his bow on his back, took out the jade tablet from his storage bag, and entered the city. He secretly calculated:

"Ning Hejing had drawn me in, giving me over ten minor merits. Combined with the hunting from these past days, exchanging for a Suiyuan Pill should not be a problem."

"Calculating the days, Yuanjiao might be reaching Foundation Establishment soon. If I could entrust Liu Changdie to take it out..."

Just as he landed on the city wall, people swarmed around him, cries of "General" rising and falling. Li Xuanfeng revealed a slight smile, exchanged a few words with the crowd, then a woman gracefully descended onto the city wall.

The woman was dressed in the blue robes of a fairy sect disciple, with golden patterns embroidered on her sleeves, indicating she was likely a Peak Master or similar figure. Her eyebrows were arched, her eyes gentle, and she appeared to be only in her twenties.

The clan cultivators were so frightened they fell silent and scattered like a swarm of bees. Li Xuanfeng cupped his hands and asked:

"May I know which Peak Master I have the honor of addressing? I am Li Xuanfeng."

The woman said softly:

"Ning Wan of Moon Lake Peak greets the General."

Ning Wan was now a mid-Foundation Establishment cultivator, having refined the Pine Forest North Wind and cultivated the Immortal Foundation into Pure Hearing. A clear and bitter scent of pine followed her as she walked.

Standing in the moonlight now, she appeared ethereal.

Li Xuanfeng merely bowed his head as Ning Wan said softly:

"I have been waiting for quite some time. I didn't expect the General to be so dedicated to duty. Please, General, bathe and change. My True Person is summoning you."

Li Xuanfeng was slightly startled, his expression solemn, feeling perplexed, and thought to himself:

'True Person Element... what is this about?'

He nodded and withdrew, changed into a different set of clothes, put his bow into his storage bag, and only then left the cave dwelling. Ning Wan was still waiting outside the courtyard, holding a string of jade beads and idly fiddling with them.

Seeing Li Xuanfeng emerge from the cave dwelling, she nodded slightly, and they flew off together on the wind. She suddenly asked:

"When did your esteemed clan migrate to Moon Lake? The great battle back then took place on the south bank, wiping out all life. It must have been within three hundred years."

Li Xuanfeng was startled and replied:

"According to my clan's research, it should have been after that great battle three hundred years ago. The spiritual energy on the south bank was completely severed for over two hundred years, and no one was willing to settle there, so we lived as mortals for three hundred years."

"Oh."

Ning Wan smiled gently, her willow-like eyebrows curved, and she said softly:

"Where are there mortals with three generations of Foundation Establishment cultivators and spiritual apertures everywhere? Fellow Daoist, you must be joking. If you use such words to address the True Person, I'm afraid you'll get into trouble."

Although these words were as gentle as a breeze, they exploded in his ears like thunder. Li Xuanfeng suddenly looked up, meeting Ning Wan's soft, clear eyes directly.

Even before achieving Foundation Establishment, Ning Wan was renowned as the "Autumn Lake Fairy," the foremost beauty of Qingchi. Her eyes were indeed beautiful, but Li Xuanfeng was in no mood to appreciate them:

'Is she warning me?' he wondered. 'Why? My family has no connection to her. Why would she help me?'

'What does True Person Element mean by this?' he thought. 'Is he trying to investigate my family's origins?!'