Chapter 369: Wei Li

Master Yuansu’s cave dwelling was built simply, appearing to be made of ordinary bluestone with no luxurious decorations. The only adornment was a coiled bronze beast, neither wolf nor tiger, placed in front.

Ning Wan led the way, and they both entered the cave dwelling. Master Yuansu was seated prominently at the head, holding a small, pale golden dharma seal in his hand and gazing at it, lost in thought.

It was Li Xuanfeng’s first time meeting a Purple Mansion cultivator. Master Yuansu had a round face and no imposing presence, appearing to be only in his twenties. One hand rested on his knee, and he looked completely at ease.

White mist permeated everywhere, flowing ceaselessly. The spiritual energy was astonishingly dense; a mere handful, with a little refinement, could likely become a small stream of pure spiritual energy. His ankles felt cool and icy, likely due to another type of natural spiritual water.

Yuansu wore light armor, and a halberd lay flat beside him; both glowed with a pale golden light. He looked up.

“Li Xuanfeng, this junior greets Master!”

Master Yuansu responded with an "Mm," and offered no further gesture.

The azure cave dwelling had walls on all sides. Rows of characters were carved into the azure stone, but they were obscured by spiritual energy condensed into mist, making the content unclear. Only numerous smudged marks, varying in depth, could be discerned.

Yuansu did not make them wait long. After a brief pause, he asked:

“Wan’er,” he said, “the radiance in the Great Void has dissipated. That person should have been reborn, perhaps somewhere between Yufu Commandery and Lin’an Commandery. Have people pay attention, and by no means let there be any conflict.”

“This junior understands!”

Ning Wan nodded slightly. Yuansu then continued:

“Arrange the play of 'returning north and defending the righteous path against demons' well. Don't let him break the golden nature that binds him. Once he's safely sent back, that will be the end of it.”

Li Xuanfeng listened to their conversation in silence, secretly committing it to memory and pondering it. Only then did Yuansu shift his gaze to him and say softly:

“Did Li Mutian forge an Immortal Foundation? If so, what kind?”

The topic was abrupt, but fortunately, Li Xuanfeng had been warned and had pondered it for a long time on the way. So, at this moment, he felt little panic and replied:

“The Foundation Establishment was merely a rumor. My late great-grandfather was just a mortal. When our family was weak back then, we intentionally allowed the rumor to spread, merely to leverage its influence.”

Yuansu nodded and said in a low voice:

“It’s no coincidence that three out of four mortal sons possess spiritual apertures. Do you know why?”

The most crucial question was finally on the table. Li Xuanfeng, well aware of Purple Mansion’s methods and spells, nodded and, taking a step back to advance, replied:

“Master, you are wise. I myself have been troubled for a long time, often imagining if we were descendants of some Purple Mansion. And even hearing that the Immortal Manor’s successor is surnamed Li, I wondered if there was a familial connection.”

This topic was almost taboo, startling Ning Wan, who couldn't help but glance sideways. Li Xuanfeng, however, remained expressionless, his tone steady, as if discussing a trivial matter.

“Oh?”

Master Yuansu chuckled. He glanced over with a smile and replied:

“Donghua Li Jiangqun?! You certainly dare to imagine!”

He waved his hand and said softly:

“Eighty or ninety percent of all Lis and Cuis in the world originated from Wei. According to old records, the most likely origin is the Li clan of the former Wei Kingdom. Next would be the Tan Mountain Li clan of the Wu Kingdom. The Li clan was very active in recent antiquity, leaving behind many bloodlines.”

“As for True Lord Donghua…”

Master Yuansu stared into Li Xuanfeng’s grey eyes for a moment and smiled:

“True Lord Donghua originated from the Ning Kingdom, known for turning blood into cassia and tears into frost. If your family could claim kinship, you wouldn’t be in your current state.”

Though that was said, Yuansu paused, then still softly said:

“Step forward.”

Li Xuanfeng stepped forward. Yuansu placed one hand on his shoulder and, with the other, performed a hand seal to cast a spell. Colorful light flowed from his hand, and Li Xuanfeng felt a sharp pain in his fingertip as blood oozed out.

Then the blood pulsed and swirled in the colorful light, turning into a golden ray. Only then did Yuansu say:

“Indeed, it is the Wei Li. Their lineage must have been severed long ago…”

Yuansu, being a Purple Mansion cultivator, found it extremely difficult to expend so much thought on this matter. With a wave of his hand, he dispelled the spell and said softly:

“Your family is a remnant of the Wei Li…”

He paused for two breaths. Suddenly, he had an epiphany, as if understanding a problem that had troubled him for a long time. His doubts vanished, and he smiled:

“No wonder those bald monks always have trouble with your Li family! So this is the reason! The Hu and Jie tribes destroyed Wei and took control of the north, ruining the Zhaoyuan Immortal Mansion. This clan hatred and blood feud is naturally an excellent remedy for fate!”

“It must be a remnant of the Wei Li main lineage!”

Yuansu, being several hundred years old, had grown tired of most worldly pleasures. Now, having understood the cause and effect, he felt greatly refreshed and said with a smile:

“This is quite a clever scheme, such a design! Even those bald monks probably can’t figure out why fate is on your side! Wrath only knows how to kill the whale, but doesn’t know where the whale came from.”

“If it weren’t for a casual move by me, who could have uncovered this? Utilizing the Mingyang golden nature, entangled for a thousand years, a thousand-year-long scheme—this is the work of a Grand Cultivator! This is what a Golden Core cultivator truly is!”

Li Xuanfeng listened, understanding some parts but not others. At least the crisis was resolved. Yuansu, however, grew excited, pacing back and forth, suddenly feeling a tinge of regret:

‘No wonder Xiao Chuting played the game like this,’ he thought. ‘If this person isn’t some old reclusive master who re-cultivated, then he is truly a formidable young talent!’

Ning Wan was also surprised by Yuansu’s lapse in composure. With her broader experience, she vaguely understood some of the underlying causes and effects.

‘Could it be about the Wrathful Maha!’ she thought.

A partial understanding is often the most startling. Ning Wan felt a chill down her spine and a deep fear rose in her heart:

‘Is this the work of a Golden Core cultivator?’ she thought. ‘Even if they die in an encirclement, they can still leave behind a contingency, calculating the demise of the Ninth Generation Maha a thousand years later!’

Her heart felt cold. She felt an even deeper sense of powerlessness towards the True Lord Lushu Wu Yuan Fuyu above her.

‘Who can interfere with the schemes of the three True Lords of Yue Kingdom?’ she wondered.

Li Xuanfeng listened silently, diligently gathering information, and gradually understood some things. The True Lord in front of him, however, had no intention of saying more. He vigorously patted Li Xuanfeng’s shoulder and laughed:

“Li Xuanfeng, since you are not yet married, why not marry into my Ning family?”

Li Xuanfeng was momentarily stunned. Before he could speak, Master Yuansu squinted and chuckled:

“As for Wan’er, don’t even think about it. She has the potential for Purple Mansion, but your path is not an easy one.”

Li Xuanfeng saw his expression and knew that refusal was impossible. Yuansu said softly:

“He Mian is quite good. Hurry and arrange it; don’t delay.”

The Li family, Lijing Mountain.

The small courtyard on the mountaintop was eerily quiet. Moonlight, white as frost, spilled across the ground.

Li Ximing, dressed in white, knelt silently on the ground. His cheek was swollen and bruised.

Li Yuanjiao sat astride, like a general ready for battle. His face was gloomy, his naturally fierce expression now mingled with shock and fury. He looked as if he might devour someone at any moment.

Unlike the silent rage of his granduncle Li Tongya, Li Yuanjiao’s anger flared from his eyes. When his expression tensed, a strong malice, as if baring fangs and claws, contorted his face.

Li Qinghong had arrived early, her face like frost, standing silently. Li Ximing dared not look up.

After several dozen breaths, rapid footsteps were heard from outside the door. Li Yuanping pushed the door open and entered, his face grim, his heart and lungs aching. He said nothing, quietly standing to one side.

Li Yuanjiao narrowed his eyes, forcibly suppressing his rage. He said softly:

“Brother Ping,” he asked, “was this the doing of Elder Xishang?”

Li Yuanping’s face was devoid of color. His gaunt body bowed, and he said in a deep voice:

“It wasn’t necessary in the first place. Moreover... wasn’t the talisman seed still there?”

Li Yuanjiao slowly shook his head, his heart heavy with vexation. He had been preparing for secluded cultivation but was abruptly awakened. His descendant had ended up in such a state; how could he not feel distressed? He only regretted:

‘I only blame myself for focusing on cultivation every day and failing to truly see my junior,’ he thought. ‘I thought he was disciplined and restrained, so I carelessly sent him to the Xiao family... My fault, my fault!’

It was unclear whether he had left an offspring in the Xiao family. Li Yuanjiao felt a deep fear in his heart:

‘Losing one’s prime yang is not a big deal at all,’ he thought. ‘There are precedents for youthful indulgence a few times... But... what if he left behind offspring outside...’

‘Ximing is the eldest legitimate son of the eldest branch, and this child is also the eldest in the eldest branch,’ he worried. ‘If he has no offspring in the future, he would truly be the sole heir of the eldest branch. Even if he has offspring, there is still the clan system and lineage to consider...’

Silence filled the courtyard. Li Yuanping, at the side, slowly sat down and said softly:

“How about...”

Before Li Yuanping could finish speaking, Li Yuanjiao cut him off with a wave of his hand. He glanced at Li Ximing and replied:

“Let’s discuss this inside the courtyard.”

The three entered the back courtyard. Li Yuanping quietly said:

“How about, according to the clan rules, we strip this child of his status and expel him from the main lineage, just in case.”

“No!”

Li Yuanjiao’s expression was unreadable, and he said in a low voice:

“You only have this one son. Wouldn’t that mean the eldest branch would be cut off!”

“We can adopt an heir.”

Li Ximing was his own son, yet Li Yuanping’s words were merciless, and his face showed no emotion, though his hands trembled. Li Yuanjiao shook his head and replied instead:

“In the end, it was just a young man indulging in pleasure; the punishment shouldn’t be too severe. Since he sincerely regrets, let him keep the Young Master’s status, and everything else remains as before.”

Li Yuanjiao’s face was hidden in deep shadows, his voice low:

“This matter should not be heavily punished; it should be handled leniently. Isn’t he afraid of struggling to balance cultivation and clan affairs? The Golden Sun Radiant Core will still be given to him, and before his Foundation Establishment, he won’t be given much alchemy work either.”

Li Yuanping listened to this punishment that seemed like no punishment at all. He slowly raised his head and said in a low voice:

“Then what about the Young Master position?”

“Let’s try Xicheng.”

As soon as Li Yuanjiao finished speaking, Li Yuanping’s expression changed several times, and he said in a low voice:

“Brother... this is a path to chaos!”

Li Yuanjiao shook his head and said through gritted teeth:

“At present, this is the only way!”

Li Yuanping’s face suddenly flushed red. He said in a deep voice:

“And after Xicheng? Will it be the eldest branch or the second branch? Once this precedent is set, it will be the beginning of division!”

Li Yuanjiao replied hoarsely:

“What else do you propose? Turn Ximing, our own alchemy genius, into an enemy full of resentment?...”

Li Yuanping’s expression turned severe, and he said harshly:

“So what? At worst, I’ll cripple his cultivation!”

As a father, at this point, Li Yuanping shed two lines of tears and was unable to speak. Li Yuanjiao rose from the shadows, moonlight once again illuminating his face. The young man in black robes said:

“Ximing received the talisman seed! And saw the internal records!”

The two brothers fell silent together. Li Qinghong, who had been listening for a long time, finally spoke:

“How about this.”

“Let’s first absolve him by claiming he was perhaps misled by a divine ability. This will prevent the child from blaming himself too much and appease everyone’s hearts. Punishing him too severely, in the end, isn’t good.”

“Let’s set aside this offense for now and pretend nothing happened. Just explain it clearly to Ximing, treating it as if he was misled by a divine ability.”

Li Yuanping’s anger subsided slightly, and he said in a low voice:

“Elder Sister thinks of it as if nothing happened, but it’s hard to say what the Xiao family will think. Moreover... since this incident occurred, how can we possibly use him!”

Li Qinghong replied:

“It’s better to make use of those who have erred than those who are faultless. He is a child of our Li family; he may be confused for a while, but not for a lifetime. Let’s observe for now. Xicheng was once dull, but now he is a benevolent master. Who can say for sure?”

“As for future troubles, a few instances of indulgence are hard to predict. Brother and I are in our prime, and with Xuan Guang guarding the clan, there won’t be usurpation overnight.”

Li Qinghong gently exhaled and said softly:

“When Great-Grandfather was alive, he always took precautions against potential problems. But he never hastily sowed seeds of disaster based on what might happen. It’s better to act cautiously.”

Li Yuanping bowed slightly and said calmly:

“Elder siblings still need to be vigilant. This junior’s fate is thin; I probably won’t be able to guard against that day.”

After speaking, he bowed and withdrew. Li Qinghong watched him leave, then turned to the silent Li Yuanjiao and sighed:

“Yuanping is a bit too extreme! What crime has Ximing committed to deserve this? It’s not that serious! And you, Brother, you just let him say whatever he wanted!”

The recent argument between the two brothers made it seem as if Li Yuanjiao was protecting Li Ximing everywhere. In reality, it was not so. Li Yuanjiao’s suggestions subtly pushed him towards a dead end, so much so that Li Yuanping finally blurted out words like crippling his cultivation.

Li Yuanjiao was still not satisfied and wanted to go a step further. Li Qinghong felt a chill in her heart as she listened and finally spoke up to stop him.

Li Yuanjiao listened to her persuasion, standing in the moonlight, tightly gripping the long sword in his hand. He said softly:

“I also can’t bear it. Yuanping’s love is so deep that his rebukes are equally severe. If it weren’t for that, he would absolutely not be willing to handle this lightly.”

He deeply understood how much effort Li Yuanping had poured into this only son and how much hope he had placed in him. Li Yuanjiao murmured:

“Brother Ping’s talent isn’t high, and he suffered a root injury; there’s no hope for him in this life. His only hope rests on this one child. As much as he had hoped in the past, that is how disappointed he is now.”

Li Qinghong’s heart was a mess as she listened, and she gritted her teeth and said:

“In the end, this child disappointed him.”

Li Yuanjiao sighed and replied:

“For now, don’t let the father and son meet. Let him go to Yuting Mountain to cultivate!”

“Lest Yuanping say something that harms their relationship. Young men are prone to resentment; too much blame might cause trouble.”

Li Yuanjiao quietly left the courtyard. Li Ximing was still kneeling in front of the courtyard, and Li Xijun was also by his side. Unlike earlier, Li Xicheng was also there, silently kneeling in front of the other two.

Seeing Li Yuanjiao emerge, Li Xicheng said in a muffled voice:

“It is Xicheng who failed to properly guide his brothers, please...”

Li Yuanjiao was irritable. He waved his sleeve, cutting him off, then soared into the air on the wind. Gazing at Wangyue Lake in the night, he clutched the sword in his hand and thought to himself:

“Ancestor! To kill enemies and slay demons, to sacrifice myself—I, Jiao, would not hesitate for a moment. But to support the weak and incompetent, and to arbitrate right and wrong—I, Yuanjiao, am truly exhausted...”

He stood in the biting wind over the lake all night. He slowly exhaled and murmured:

“Jiao will not forget.”