Chapter 372: Storytelling Book

And, flying on the wind, he spoke.

Kong Yu seemed to have been looking forward to this for a long time. Fearing his fellow disciples would steal his chance, he couldn't stay at the mountain gate for another moment. Flying on the wind over Shanji County, he said, "According to my master, it should be someone from the Luoxia Mountain immortal sect of the Northern Dao lineage, who has come down to undergo a tribulation. I don't know who this distinguished person is, but the plan is to reach Qi Cultivation in nine months, Foundation Establishment in three years, possess beauties, dismantle aristocratic families, eliminate demonic cultivators, enjoy the blessings of multiple wives... and return north all the way..."

"This! This..." Li Xuanxuan was vaguely skeptical but couldn't articulate anything, so he just murmured, "If that's the case, we're just passing through that area, so it shouldn't be a big problem, right?"

A trace of fear flickered across Kong Yu's face, and he said in a muffled voice, "You haven't met such people yet, so naturally you think it's nothing, just a genius. But when you encounter someone with such destiny or even a golden nature, you'll understand." He added, "Elder Tongya should also know. You can go back and ask him." After saying this, he fell silent, letting Li Xuanxuan probe him, but refusing to reveal anything else.

The two had no choice but to change the subject, discussing other things. Once they left Shanji County, as night deepened, Kong Yu took out a jade box, placed it in his palm, puffed out his cheeks, and blew a black cloud from it, saying, "Friend, this is the Night Cloud artifact. It can conceal our forms. The journey ahead is dangerous, so please bring your spirit beast inside."

"Alright!" Li Xuanxuan didn't stand on ceremony. Although the Xuanyue Gate was dilapidated and fallen, it still had a legacy. Kong Yu, being a descendant of True Immortal Changxi, was full of treasures. Demonic cultivators were rampant at the time, and the two couldn't travel through Yufu County. They were traversing hills and jungles, dotted with wild temples and rogue cultivators, unsure how many demonic cultivators were lying in ambush. It was truly very dangerous. They had no choice but to cultivate during the day and travel by wind at night. Kong Yu was talkative and quite knowledgeable about talismans. Their discussions on talisman arts proved mutually beneficial, and both gained a lot, which was an unexpected bonus.

One day, as the two flew to the border between Yue and Xu, a cultivator fled on a demonic wind. Golden light flowed through the night sky as another person, wielding a golden ring, broke through the air in hot pursuit. They had seen such scenes many times and usually avoided them, especially since both the immortal and demonic cultivators were at the peak of Qi Cultivation and not to be provoked. Yet, Kong Yu stopped, whispering, "Someone from the Tangjin Gate... The Situ family has some ties with my Kong clan, so it's not good to stand by idly... I'll lend a hand." With that, he summoned a jade seal and launched it directly. Li Xuanxuan sighed and cast several spells, combining them with talismans to obstruct the demonic cultivator.

"Bang!" The demonic cultivator was already at the end of his tether. Obstructed by the two and caught in a pincer attack, with two immortal sect disciples present, his escape arts were useless. He lost his life within a few dozen rounds. The Tangjin Gate disciple's golden ring danced, emitting a faint golden light. It seized the demonic cultivator's corpse and pulled it towards him. He seemed intent on claiming it for himself and spoke unceremoniously, saying directly, "Who are you?"

Li Xuanxuan couldn't be bothered with him, so he pretended Kong Yu was in charge and retreated behind him. Kong Yu also frowned and replied, "I am Kong from Xuanyue. It's been a long time since I've seen anyone from the Tangjin Gate. Our intervention this time isn't to share spoils, but because the Kong clan remembers the kindness of yielding the path from years ago, so we offered assistance."

"Oh." The young man appeared very indifferent, giving Kong Yu the cold shoulder. He slowly said, "Oh?! You are quite warm-hearted, friend." Kong Yu's face already showed a hint of embarrassment. He turned and prepared to leave. The young man, equally unpleased, sneered, "I wondered who it was, turns out it's the 'Incense Stick Family'!"

"How dare you, junior?!" Kong Yu flew into a rage, his artifact rising from his hand as he cursed loudly. The young man showed no fear, a look of disgust on his face, and replied, "Let me tell you, Kong Nuanmeng married Situ Yi, and that branch has long been slaughtered by my lineage, Situ Mo. If your Kong clan dares to mention any past kindness of yielding the path again, it means you're opposing my family!" Kong Yu's face changed color from anger at his words, as if he had seen something strange. He was both furious and amused, gritting his teeth as he said, "Confused fool! Situ Tang was a hero of his generation, yet he spawned such imbeciles as you!"

With that, he turned and left, ignoring the Tangjin Gate direct descendant Situ Mo's expression of shock and anger. He hastily flew away on the wind. Li Xuanxuan, hidden in the cloud, listened with trepidation. Seeing that the man didn't pursue them, he let out a long breath and sighed, "Friend, why did you do that? The Tangjin Gate's cultivation method excels in combat, and this Situ Mo looks like a direct descendant's young master. His golden ring is very powerful. If you truly provoked him, it could lead to disaster." If it truly came to a fight, Kong Yu, an old man nearing a hundred years who hadn't broken through to Foundation Establishment, might not die, but Li Xuanxuan, the little shopkeeper who made talismans, would most likely lose his life. Naturally, he was scared to death.

Kong Yu sighed and said in a muffled voice, "Back then, True Immortal Changxi passed through Tangjin Mountain, moving mountains and affecting the earth's meridians. The Tangjin Gate had to relocate several peaks, which led to a connection and a marriage alliance. Who would have thought that with the passage of time, the Situ family would become such arrogant and extravagant young masters." Given how chaotic things had been at Tangjin Gate for so long, how could Kong Yu not know about the changes in the Situ family? The branch of the Kong family that had married into them had long been massacred. The Kong clan was secretly weak and didn't want to create enmity. They only counted the past kindness as owed by the Tangjin Gate, hoping to continue as allies. Now, being explicitly cursed by Situ Mo, their hearts turned cold.

Li Xuanxuan was still curious about the "Incense Stick Family." He didn't ask immediately, just offered silent comfort, waiting for Kong Yu to speak. Li Xuanxuan was not a young master who had obediently cultivated on an immortal mountain since childhood. He was an old man who had spent decades navigating the ways of the mortal world and understood things clearly. As soon as they met, Kong Yu spoke of a deceased senior brother and mentioned the kindness of yielding the path, which showed he was someone who couldn't keep sad things bottled up, with a self-pitying nature. There was no need to ask. After waiting for more than ten breaths, Kong Yu indeed began to speak, "To be honest, the Kong clan has suffered greatly from incidents like those in Yufu County."

"My late grandfather died in such an incident. Back then, he went out to collect spiritual items. When he approached Xu Kingdom's Jishui County, he lost his mind, acting like a madman. It would have been one thing if he just traveled thousands of miles to find a small tavern, but he had to speak rudely and insult a young man."

"The young man merely sneered and left. Half a year later, he attacked our clan, killing my grandfather. And my great-grandfather, a magnificent immortal cultivator at the peak of Foundation Establishment, actually let a Qi Cultivation realm cultivator get away!"

Li Xuanxuan, as if listening to a story, said in disbelief, "How is that possible!"

"How is it not possible!" Kong Yu's face was clouded with gloom. He gnashed his teeth and whispered, "His own son was beaten to death right before him, yet he was so entranced that he played some game with that young man, 'holding out for an incense stick'! And he lost, becoming a laughingstock ever since! Don't you think it's ridiculous?!" He burst into bitter laughter, his face full of sorrow, and whispered, "Everyone sent by my family turned into imbeciles one by one, fed to him as nourishment. Finally, even my great-grandfather, at the peak of Foundation Establishment, died at his hands. That young man trampled our immortal mountain, disbanded the Kong family, and then returned north."

"What about True Immortal Changxi?" Li Xuanxuan's mouth went dry. After hearing his story, he quickly asked.

Kong Yu quietly replied, "Later, True Immortal Changxi returned after his breakthrough. My Kong clan, a three-hundred-year-old aristocratic family, disintegrated within three years and even earned the moniker 'Incense Stick Family.' True Immortal Changxi, filled with fear and unease, moved out of Xu Kingdom, which is how the Xuanyue Gate came to be later."

"Alas..." Li Xuanxuan felt cold sweat trickle down his back. He echoed the sigh and thought to himself, 'No wonder the Xuanyue Gate is so dilapidated. Back then, most of the cultivated clan members died, and they probably haven't recovered since...'

Kong Yu, with a face full of sorrow, merely replied, "The calamity of my Kong clan is recorded throughout with the words 'helplessness.' I don't know how helpless my ancestors felt when they encountered this disaster. This matter caused a huge stir in Xu Kingdom, known to everyone. Even the clan members who fled and integrated into various families made it widely known."

Li Xuanxuan was moved by his words and whispered, "Did that person back then... have a name?"

Kong Yu spread his hands and smiled, "A name? This humble cultivator dares not speak it."

Li Xuanxuan was immediately choked up. After listening all this way, he suddenly felt something was amiss and whispered, "Since he is such an unprovokable distinguished person, why make it so... widely known? It brings no benefit to your family... Forgetting this matter is the only way to preserve future generations..." He added in his mind, 'If it's spread everywhere like this, isn't it clearly telling that distinguished person that the Kong family deeply resents him?'

Kong Yu looked at him deeply and replied, "This humble cultivator dares not speak ill, dares not hate, dares not avoid discussing it. When this matter is mentioned, it must be recounted from beginning to end, without omission. This is simply to ensure the story continues to spread, to please that person, and thus seek to barely survive. After all, it's a story meticulously crafted by that distinguished person. The wider the story spreads, the more the Kong family serves as a monument witnessing his rise, and the less that person will want my family to perish. But if even the villains in the story forget the story, how would the audience find it interesting?" Kong Yu's voice was low.

***

The Li Family.

The New Year was approaching, snow fell, and the day for collecting tributes was near. Li Yuanping tallied the households. The Li family now governed five peaks and eighteen towns, supporting 320,000 people. Adding the 280,000 from Dongshan Yue, there were a total of 600,000 people. These 600,000 people were thanks to the decades-long efforts of the three brothers, Li Yuanxiu, Li Yuanjiao, and Li Yuanping, in relocating citizens. They moved people from the densely populated Lijing and Huaqian areas to the newly acquired Huazhong and Yuting mountains. Additionally, the demonic calamity prompted people to flee from various families on the east bank and the Yu family to the Li family, thus creating the current situation. "Six hundred thousand people!" The fertility of the Li family's five peaks was second only to the vast fertile plains of the dense forest, much better than the deep mountains and old forests of the Fei family. However, supporting 600,000 people was already pushing their limits.

Thanks to this, although the Li family had only a handful of Qi Cultivation practitioners, they possessed the largest number of Fetal Breath cultivators among all the families. Once the five peaks established a prefectural system, the registered Fetal Breath cultivators surged from nearly 200 before the New Year to over 300 currently. Li Yuanping knew perfectly well: firstly, various prominent families, seeing the potential for profit, immediately registered their cultivated practitioners into the Li family's clan registry. Secondly, rogue cultivators, seeing the benefits, immediately came to pledge their allegiance.

"Nothing but wealth sways people's hearts!" A cold smile appeared on Li Yuanping's pale face. 'Certainly, at least half of the Fetal Breath cultivators from outside clans and prominent families haven't registered yet, fearing that I, Li Yuanping, might play tricks, waiting for this piece of meat to drop first!' He looked at the names on the list and whispered, "Once registered... you won't be able to do as you please!"

"Please let everyone in!" Li Yuanping gave the order, and Dou Yi immediately went down to announce. A string of cultivators then filed in, led by An Zheyuan and Tian Zhongqing. The An and Tian families, having contributed the most, naturally walked in front, followed by Chen, Xu, Ren, Xu...

"During this demonic calamity, the Tian family contributed the most." Li Yuanping looked at those below and said softly, "Tian Zhongqing, you are appointed as Peak Guardian of Huaqian Mountain." Tian Zhongqing was not surprised by Li Yuanping's appointment. Li Yuanping's prefectural system established three leadership roles: Peak Strategist, Peak Guardian, and Peak Overseer. The Peak Overseers managed the formation disks. They were all members of the Li family's direct or collateral lines. Though not strong in cultivation, they held the formation disks and could simply check them occasionally and cultivate in peace. The Peak Strategists were only filled by Fetal Breath cultivators. They oversaw three departments managing taxes, general affairs, and supervision, with dozens of Fetal Breath cultivators under them. It was a demanding position, but he wouldn't be placed there. The Peak Guardians were Qi Cultivation practitioners responsible for suppressing demons and monsters. It was the strongest and most leisurely position. Tian Zhongqing, being only forty years old, was at a good time to improve his cultivation.

"Xu Gongming is appointed Peak Guardian of Yuting Mountain, Xu Shumu as Peak Strategist of Huazhong Mountain, Xu Gongyu as Peak Strategist of Wutu Mountain, Shamoli as Peak Guardian of Wutu Mountain..." Li Yuanping only promoted elders and those who had made significant contributions during the demonic calamity. Each peak was governed by one Qi Cultivation practitioner, three miscellaneous Qi practitioners, and dozens of Fetal Breath cultivators of varying levels. Most Fetal Breath cultivators were dispatched for farming and general affairs during peacetime and were not on the mountain. Seeing that the positions were mostly filled to a barely sustainable level, he did not announce the remaining positions.

The cultivators all looked over. Li Yuanping collected the items in his hand and said warmly, "The clan still lacks cultivators. Once the Fetal Breath cultivators assigned to the various peaks are sufficient, Yuanping will promote those who have made contributions from among them." Li Yuanping looked at their expressions of mutual uncertainty and smiled, "There are only so many peak positions. They are assessed based on cultivation and merit, and each position comes with an artifact, elixir distribution, and a cultivation cave. The clan is already strained by these expenses."

When these three conditions were announced, the guest cultivators, prominent families, and branch families below immediately eyed them enviously. In this era of rampant demonic cultivators, if they left, they couldn't expect to return. The main family was their only source of artifacts and elixirs. The Li family was poor, and the cultivators under their governance were even poorer. Although peak duties came with artifacts, and losing the duties meant returning the artifact, several families simply had no artifacts at all. Furthermore, elixirs and cultivation caves were for increasing cultivation. An earlier breakthrough could mean an extra hundred years of life. Such temptations were hard to resist...

Li Yuanping saw the wavering eyes and nascent greed in those below. He nodded and waved for them to depart. 'The Snake Demon's cave dwelling is larger than we thought. The direct descendants don't lack cultivation caves, so these mountain cave dwellings can be given to them... Artifacts are just lying around anyway. The only cost is some clan stipends and elixirs.' Li Yuanping exhaled, looking at the sparse reports on his desk. He prepared to expand the Yuting Guard and the Clan Rectification Hall. "More stipends... spiritual rice, spirit stones, spiritual elixirs, which one isn't scarce? The spiritual items at the bottom of Wangyue Lake are too few. If only we could freely enter Dali Mountain..."