Chapter 371: Yu Fu's Matter

Li Xicheng was momentarily choked. He shook his head helplessly, then pulled out the jade slip containing the clan regulations from his robe. Handing it to Li Xijun, he said softly, "The new system has just been established, and most positions are still vacant. For now, Uncle Ping can still manage the family affairs, keeping the subordinates waiting. They'll be assigned eventually. Take a look."

Hearing this, Li Xijun looked at his brother with a hint of surprise, then took the slip and read it carefully: "Clan Duality..."

Li Xijun understood the "Peak Governance System" that followed just by skimming the titles. He returned his attention to the "Clan Duality" section at the beginning, reading it meticulously. After a long silence, he whispered, "Uncle... Uncle... breaking up the four branches, merging them into one peak, and establishing a government... is this still a family?"

Li Xicheng was startled by his audacious words. He sternly asked, "What are you saying?!"

Li Xijun's face was grim. He replied, "Under this system, it's the Lijing Sect, not the Lijing Li Family! The cohesion of a family comes from generational continuity. If they're scattered among various peaks, where will the family be?"

Li Xicheng looked at him silently, then whispered, "What do you propose?"

"A slight modification would suffice."

Li Xijun read the jade slip again, still feeling something was amiss. He replied, "This document only outlines the clan system, not the family system. While outsiders and branch families can be dispersed among the peaks, the main and minor direct lines should not."

He flicked his sleeve, rose into the air, and departed for the central hall.

Lijing Mountain.

After over a year of arduous work, Li Yuanping had finally established numerous systems. Seeing the affairs gradually ease and yield results, he felt a great weight lifted from his heart.

"My elder brother is in seclusion. I wonder how long it will take him to achieve a breakthrough, and how confident he is."

As he pondered, a commotion arose outside the central hall. Li Xijun, clad in white with a furrowed brow, hurried into the main hall, bowing deeply. He announced in a solemn tone, "This nephew greets the Patriarch!"

'He's here!'

Li Yuanping had been expecting him. Given his current authority within the family, very few dared to openly criticize the new laws; only these younger members had the courage to speak up. So, with a smile, he asked, "Jun'er, what is your opinion?"

Li Xijun's bright eyes met his uncle's. Without needing many words, he knew better than to point out issues bluntly and embarrass Li Yuanping. He simply replied, "This nephew has a request!"

"Speak."

Li Yuanping particularly enjoyed conversing with this nephew, as Li Xijun always presented his objections tactfully, without causing offense. At that moment, he simply leaned in, ready to listen.

"This nephew requests to reconstruct the Serpent Demon's Cave on the lake, fill the lake to create an islet, and establish a division there. We would then relocate the family's direct descendants and gifted members of the minor branches to cultivate there, establishing it as the Li family's primary headquarters."

He whispered, "Jun'er understands Uncle's intentions. What this nephew means is: 'Clan Duality' should not convert the family into a mere sect."

"The Li family on the lake, the peak-mansions along the shore..."

Li Yuanping offered a faint smile and nodded. Li Xijun then stepped forward, pointing to a map as he softly explained, "The lakeside would simply be the area for governance, managing external families, and protecting mortals. The lake itself, however, would be where the cultivators of the four direct lines and talented minor branches reside together..."

"One day, when we unify Wangyue, we will then relocate to the ruins of the Huzhongzhou market, the most vital large islet in the lake. From then on, we will be the Immortal Clan of the Lake, with the surrounding lake area becoming a county..."

Li Xijun's ambition proved even greater. His gaze was resolute, and Li Yuanping listened, his eyes gleaming with fascination. Li Xijun quietly added, "This nephew has investigated that grotto. While it's not suitable for rice cultivation, it's quite spacious and rich in spiritual energy—an excellent place for cultivation!"

"That grotto lacks formation protection. Our own people gradually withdrew after the ancestor's passing. Now that it can be utilized, wouldn't it be ideal?"

After speaking, Li Xijun lowered his gaze and said, "This junior's humble opinion..."

Li Yuanping, however, shook his head and chuckled, "What humble opinion! My father already set out for Shanjin County in the east to invite cultivators from the Xuanyue Sect to move mountains and create islets. He simply kept it quiet to guard against ambushes!"

"Oh!"

Li Yuanping smiled, "Do you still remember the Rui family?"

He took out a vermillion brush, circled a spot, and explained, "This mountain has weak earth veins but abundant water veins, and a spiritual spring at its peak. I intend to ask the Xuanyue Sect members to move this mountain and place it on the lake, to serve as our family's main peak!"

"Firstly, it would allow us to escape the influence of the Green Essence Copper Essence and utilize this spiritual spring, meaning the family wouldn't have to purchase it anymore. Secondly, we would gain an additional peak. Wouldn't that be splendid!"

The Li family had previously acquired a ley line-seeking art, "Listening and Investigating the Earth Court," from the An family, which gave them a clear understanding of their clan's earth and water veins. After Li Yuanping finished speaking, Li Xijun replied, "We'll still need to consult with the Xuanyue Sect members to determine if these earth and water veins will remain functional after being moved, and if the spiritual spring will disappear."

"No worries,"

Li Yuanping chuckled, "Currently, twelve families from the east bank have allied with us and pay tribute. We can simply find the most suitable mountain among them and move it. A small compensation to that family wouldn't incur much expense."

"Uncle's foresight is clear."

Li Xijun exhaled in relief, a smile gracing his face. Straightening up, he said, "This junior was overly concerned."

"Ah!"

Li Yuanping's smile faded, and he sighed, whispering, "Jun'er, your Seventh Uncle will say something he shouldn't. Your father passed away early, and among the Xiyue generation, there are many minor branches but few major ones. If anything were to happen to me, the family would have to depend on you."

"Xicheng is your own elder brother, so I can't say much about him. Ximing is disappointing. As an elder, this is all I can do."

After years of working tirelessly day and night, his complexion had worsened considerably, and his smile was no longer pleasant. He said gently, "After this matter, I will gradually relinquish control of family affairs. You all can manage them as you see fit."

Yuting Mountain.

Li Ximing sat cross-legged, the true essence of the "Golden Hall Resplendent Origin Art" flowing through him. The dark chamber was filled with a bright, golden-red glow.

He slowly opened his eyes and exhaled a wisp of golden qi.

Perhaps due to concerns about the powers of the Old Man of the Stream, the elders' punishment was unbelievably lenient: merely house arrest, with everything else remaining unchanged. Pills and provisions were still supplied, and family matters no longer troubled him.

He was confined to this solitary small courtyard, with all resources available on demand. From time to time, Li Xijun would even come to visit him.

Li Ximing felt as if a thousand-jin burden had been lifted. He was incredibly light, and his cultivation progressed by leaps and bounds. He mused contentedly, "This is for the best."

He cultivated daily, and in his leisure, he would read alchemy texts. Li Xijun, understanding his intentions, named his pavilion the "Pill Pavilion" and frequently sent spiritual items for him to practice with.

He was freed from all family responsibilities, left only with alchemy and cultivation. He poured all his lingering guilt into these endeavors.

He wasn't truly a person of resolute character. As a child, Li Ximing was driven to distraction by immense pressure, often fantasizing about transforming into a magical artifact — one that solely cultivated and refined pills, calmly sitting atop a fire vein.

He merely had to contribute silently, without the worry of disappointing his father.

'This current situation is remarkably similar to my childhood dream!'

Li Ximing gently patted his storage bag, and his alchemy furnace flew out, landing with a thump. It was a dark, intricately patterned vessel, its body adorned with carvings of waves and fierce beasts, supported by three legs. A small name was inscribed on it: "Furnace of the River."

With a flick of his elbow, he retrieved a yellowish-white piece of wood, the Spirit Jewel Wood, a spiritual item essential for Embryonic Breathing cultivation.

Clapping his hands together, he summoned a pale golden alchemical flame. Li Ximing nodded inwardly.

'The Golden Hall Resplendent Origin Art truly lives up to its reputation as a fourth-grade cultivation method. It's extraordinary; its true essence is pure Yang, and the alchemical flame it summons is superior to what I used before.'

"To refine the Yangqing Pill, Spirit Jewel Wood should be combined with the Bright Sun Three-Nine Method."

These were all experiences Xiao Yuansi had painstakingly accumulated. Li Ximing tossed the piece of wood into the bottom of the furnace, then retrieved the jade box. Using his magical power, he extracted the Yangqing Fruit and dropped it into the furnace.

He slowly extracted the essence, then took out several auxiliary ingredients and added them one by one into the furnace.

Finally, he continuously refined it with the alchemical flame. After about half an hour, six pale red spiritual pills emerged from the furnace's mouth.

"The Embryonic Breathing pill, the Yangqing Pill, is now complete."

These six pills, capable of sustaining six Embryonic Breathing cultivators for months, had taken him only half an hour to produce. Li Ximing collected them using a special technique, feeling considerably more comfortable.

"Father... Ximing hasn't really let down the elders."

If his primal yang had remained unbroken, he would surely have had an even greater chance of successful pill formation. Thinking this, he quietly lowered his head, took out numerous spiritual items from his storage bag, and prepared to refine another batch.

Shanjin County, Xuanyue Sect.

The Xuanyue Sect had migrated from the State of Xu and settled in Shanjin County. Most of its members cultivated Earth Element profound arts. Only True Person Changxi guarded the sect, which was confined to a single county. Fortunately, Shanjin County was a large county, and the Xuanyue Sect had a considerable number of disciples.

Li Xuanxuan announced his arrival, and two outer disciples courteously received him. The Xuanyue Sect was among the weakest of the seven sects, possessing only a handful of Foundation Establishment cultivators, and its disciples harbored no arrogance.

Li Xuanxuan waited for a while at the foot of the mountain with the old monkey before a cultivator descended to greet him.

The man was dressed in white, with features that were otherwise presentable, but unfortunately, moles on both cheeks somewhat marred his demeanor. Adorned with various jade ornaments, he landed and said with a smile, "I am Kong Yu of Xuanyue. Greetings, fellow Daoist. May I ask from which part of Lijing you hail?"

"Li Xuanxuan of the Li family."

To Li Xuanxuan's surprise, Kong Yu was at the peak of Qi Condensation and remarkably polite. Flattered, Li Xuanxuan quickly responded. Kong Yu then smiled and asked, "I wonder, is the Moongate Sword...?"

"That is precisely my paternal uncle!"

Hearing of their close familial ties, Kong Yu nodded repeatedly and said, "Our True Person was present when Senior Tongya slew Maha with his sword. He once praised your esteemed family's sword techniques, remarking that the Li family's sword dao would be considered top-tier even within the Wanyu Sword Sect."

"Senior, you overpraise."

Li Xuanxuan responded modestly. Kong Yu sighed, "If the Wanyu Sword Sect weren't constantly embroiled in conflict with the Pure One Dao and Scarlet Reef Island over the Qing Song Daoist Temple ruins, and if the world weren't so turbulent with demonic cultivators, someone would have long since sought guidance from your esteemed family. It's truly a pity that Senior Tongya missed an opportunity to further his renown!"

'A pity?'

Li Xuanxuan secretly mused, 'Currently, the highest level of sword dao in our family is only Jiao'er, comparable to Lingdi in his youth. How can they possibly measure up to my paternal uncle, who comprehended sword qi while wielding the Jade Capital Wheel? If not for the sudden demonic disaster, his reputation would probably have been ruined long ago...'

Seeing his reluctance to elaborate, Kong Yu directly asked, "Fellow Daoist, are you here to alter ley lines and move immortal mountains?"

Li Xuanxuan nodded and said, "I've heard that your immortal sect excels in this art, renowned as the best in Jiangnan. Changxi Mountain was moved from the State of Xu, establishing Xuanyue's prestige. I wonder if we could possibly invite one or two fellow Daoists to lend their assistance..."

Kong Yu repeatedly affirmed; his own sect had risen to prominence precisely through this art. While "first in Jiangnan" might be an exaggeration, "first in Yue State" was undeniably accurate. He quietly said, "Yes! Of course, we can. The price will be determined by the ley lines; we'll know once we've surveyed the land. If fellow Daoist decides to proceed, I will immediately ascend the mountain to retrieve the magical artifacts."

Li Xuanxuan watched him ascend. Before long, Kong Yu hurried back down, a string of golden, glowing ropes wrapped around his waist. He enthusiastically declared, "Let's go! Let's go!"

Kong Yu was quite easygoing. He ascended with Li Xuanxuan, laughing as he said, "Fortunately, my fellow disciples aren't here, or this business would have been snatched away! Sitting idly on the peak is truly bothersome! How can it compare to enjoying the scenery outside while earning cultivation resources!"

Li Xuanxuan chuckled. Having seen much scenery on his journey, he found it indeed more liberating than staying within the clan. He offered a couple of agreeable remarks. Kong Yu sighed, "Might as well tell you, Brother Xuanxuan, you truly bear a striking resemblance to my senior brother. He managed the sect in his early years but was later killed by ghosts. Seeing your appearance, I feel an instant kinship."

Li Xuanxuan shook his head, offering a few words of comfort, which Kong Yu brushed off. Seeing him head straight west, Li Xuanxuan asked, "Why not pass through Yufu County? There aren't many demonic cultivators left there... While you are from an immortal sect and possess great strength, there's no need to invite so much trouble..."

Many disciples from the three sects and seven gates had perished during the demonic disaster. Li Xuanxuan hinted at this subtly, but Kong Yu repeatedly shook his head. He replied, "We can't go there! The sect has issued a prohibition: Yufu County is off-limits for the next three years. Fellow Daoist, you should heed my words. If you go to Yufu County, you might face a terrible end!"

"What?"

Li Xuanxuan's face paled. He had just arrived from Yufu County with the old monkey, and it had appeared perfectly calm. Now, greatly alarmed, he asked, "Why is that? I just came from Yufu! Have I brought trouble upon myself?!"

Kong Yu rapidly retreated several steps in mid-air, his face grim and his voice trembling with fear. "Did fellow Daoist stop there? Did you speak to anyone? Did you intervene to help someone in distress? I heard Senior Li Tongya has a close relationship with True Person Chuting; how could you not have received this news?"

Li Xuanxuan shook his head and replied, "Never... no, I merely passed through. When I left home, the ancestor was still alive..."

"Then there's no problem!"

Kong Yu immediately breathed a sigh of relief, a smile returning to his face. He said, "There's no need to worry. As long as you didn't know anyone in that county and didn't speak, this karma definitely won't involve you, and there'll be no problem at all. But if you had touched even a little, you would have become fodder."

"If one doesn't understand the crucial details, it could lead to the destruction of one's family and sect."

He took a step forward, his numerous jade pendants and buckles jingling as he spoke mysteriously, "I heard that even most of Qingchi's personnel have withdrawn from Yufu County. True Persons Yuanwu, Yuansu, and Yuanxiu are all stationed in Taixu, solely to ensure this 'calamity star' is safely escorted out of Jiangnan and back to its Luoxia Mountain!"

Li Xuanxuan was greatly puzzled. He simply asked, "May I ask if fellow Daoist could elaborate?"