Chapter 373: Rui Jiafeng

Moon-Gazing Lake.

In winter, the lake water was a clear, light blue, with many small ice fragments drifting across its surface. Suddenly, a streak of light shot through the air and plunged into the water with a splash.

"The Serpent Demon's Den... I wonder what they plan to rename it."

Li Xijun performed a water-repelling spell and submerged himself in the lake. He landed on the yellowish-black lakebed. The Serpent Demon's Den was located on the shore of Moon-Gazing Lake; its entrance wasn't deep, and the array protecting it was simple, having been set up by the Li family themselves.

Performing the spell, he entered and found a vast manor. The air inside had a faint blue hue, and the floor and walls were polished smooth, pristine white, and clean. The manor was divided into many smaller courtyards. Along the stone walls, over a dozen grottoes had been carved, most of them dark and empty. In the center stood a colossal ice-blue pillar, its surface roughly polished. It supported the cavern and connected to the earth's veins and spiritual energy above and below, maintaining a spiritual aura 40% richer than the outside world. The light within the grotto emanated from this pillar. The Li family had learned that it was Soul-Cleansing Jade, not a rare material, and mostly used for making jade slips. Although it wasn't valuable, such a large piece was uncommon. Given its role in connecting to the earth's veins and maintaining spiritual energy, the Li family was certainly not short-sighted enough to mine it.

He landed on the central high platform. Li Wen, holding two golden gourd hammers, approached him with a simple, honest demeanor. "Young Master!"

The Li family's branch now comprised nearly ten thousand members. Many Embryonic Breath cultivators had taken up posts in the various peaks, while there was only one Miscellaneous Qi cultivator, Li Qiuyang. Among Qi Condensation cultivators, only Li Wen had emerged, making him quite the talent. "Thirty-five years old and at the third level of Qi Condensation – truly impressive."

Li Wen had an honest disposition. With the family's recent reforms, there wasn't much for him to do, so he was sent here to cultivate peacefully. His elder brother, Li Xicheng, on the other hand, had become the clan elder, so Li Wen didn't see him often.

Only a few figures were in the grotto. Li Yuanjiao was still in secluded cultivation in Wutu, but Li Qinghong had already moved here. The only others were two young disciples, Li Chengshi and Li Chengmu, both talented and cultivating in this place. Li Xijun descended into the courtyard where the two children were and offered guidance for a moment. With his white robes flowing and true essence fluctuating, he appeared like an immortal, causing their eyes to sparkle with adoration. "Eighth Uncle!"

These disciples showed promise in Qi Condensation. Once they achieved it, they would go out and replace those of other surnames as Peak Stewards. Naturally, Li Xijun spared no effort, taking out two elixirs and giving them to the two disciples.

As he was pondering, a wave of purple light flowed from a grotto in the wall. Li Qinghong rode the wind out, scanned the area, and landed beside Li Xijun, speaking softly: "Uncle Xuanxuan is back!"

Li Xuanxuan and Kong Yu landed on the Li family's territory, riding the wind. Kong Yu looked around and said in surprise: "I had heard that Moon-Gazing Marsh was once the foremost cultivation ground in Jiangnan, but later, many battles damaged its earth veins and spiritual energy. I never expected to find such a beautiful landscape here!" His lineage originated from mountain-moving techniques, so he could see everything clearly at a glance. He praised it a couple of times, then pointed to Yuting Mountain and regretfully remarked: "This mountain has been broken before. Otherwise, it would have been an excellent immortal mountain!"

"Fellow Daoist, you can discern so much at a glance!" As his own clan had only risen in prominence for a century, Li Xuanxuan had no idea whether Yuting Mountain had ever been broken. He feigned a look of sudden realization. After the two chatted and laughed for a while, Li Xijun and Li Qinghong arrived on the wind to greet them.

"These are the Ancestor's granddaughter and great-grandson." Li Xuanxuan introduced them with considerable pride. Kong Yu watched the aunt and nephew float over, stared with wide eyes for two breaths, then softly said: "Upon seeing these two Fellow Daoists, I can hardly bear to look away. Li Tongya, the Moongate Sword, possesses truly evident immortal grace and unparalleled beauty."

'This old fellow is a master at flattery,' Li Xuanxuan chuckled to himself. If one were to truly compare, Li Tongya possessed a more heroic appearance, while Li Xijun had a more ethereal, immortal presence, resembling Li Chijing more.

As he was feeling quite pleased, the two who came to greet them reacted differently. Li Qinghong merely nodded politely, while Li Xijun bowed slightly and said softly: "Senior, your physique is grand, possessing the dignified bearing of Xuan Yue."

Li Xijun's voice was clear and his demeanor composed. Kong Yu, who had initially only offered a polite compliment, couldn't help but look at him again and joked: "Disciples should be like Xijun, a jade tree and fragrant orchid. If they were as harsh and ungrateful as Situ Mo, that would be a disaster."

Li Xuanxuan gave a wry smile, not expecting Kong Yu to be so resentful. He quickly changed the subject, discussing the local earth veins. Li Xijun listened attentively, following behind on the wind.

His striking appearance was a treasure bestowed upon him by heaven. From a young age, Li Xijun had often gained advantages using it, wielding it with effortless skill. In that moment, a single sentence was enough to make Kong Yu regard the Li family highly and fill the elder with pride. 'Worldly affairs are often this superficial,' Li Xijun clearly saw. He sighed inwardly, a cold realization dawning, and scoffed at his own methods.

The group landed on the lake. Li Xuanxuan marked off an area and softly asked: "Fellow Daoist, please take a look. Would it be suitable to move a mountain here?"

Kong Yu looked around, cast a few spells, then flew to the lakeshore and grabbed handfuls of silt from the river before flying back, saying with a smile: "My dear Fellow Daoist, it turns out there's also a magnificent grotto belonging to your noble clan beneath! Moon-Gazing Lake is truly a wonderful place!"

Li Xuanxuan, thick-skinned as ever, chuckled heartily as he went to meet him, stating directly: "Your Earth Vein Seeking spell is truly remarkable, Fellow Daoist. This grotto was not easily acquired by my family."

Kong Yu nodded and said gravely: "I've carefully examined it. The earth veins here are shallow, and the water veins are abundant. We cannot move too large a mountain here; otherwise, not only will it affect the spiritual energy of the underground grotto, but the mountain itself will turn to sand and stone within a century." He continued, "Secondly, the water veins of this grotto are predominantly yin and cold, making it suitable for serpents and dragons. The moved mountain must not have fire veins, and it would likely be impossible to refine elixirs or artifacts on it..." As expected of the Xuan Yue Sect, a lineage specializing in mountain-moving, Kong Yu listed points one, two, three, and four, thoroughly explaining all potential hidden dangers. Finally, he explained: "It would likely cost at least fifty spirit stones and require the combined effort of twelve Qi Condensation cultivators to settle a mountain here."

"No problem!" Li Xuanxuan waved his hand, confidently agreeing, as the Li family currently possessed all the necessary manpower and resources. Li Xijun smiled subtly from behind, thinking to himself: "Uncle Yuanping will probably be so pained he'll be hopping mad."

Kong Yu exclaimed, "Splendid!" and then accompanied them to survey the various families on the East Shore. They spent most of the day inspecting each one. The dozen or so tribute families on the East Shore naturally dared not impede them and were all checked. By the time Kong Yu took to the wind again, the sky had grown dark. He removed the large mountains and fire veins from his records, and also excluded a few with complex earth veins, then confidently guaranteed: "The rest are all suitable. Choose whichever you like!"

The three were instantly delighted and landed together on the Rui family's mountain. Rui Qiongcuo, the head of the Rui family, bowed and scraped as he opened the great array, respectfully following behind. The two elders entered the mountain to study the earth veins, while Li Xijun stopped Rui Qiongcuo and said gently: "We apologize for the trouble, noble clan. If your mountain range is chosen, the main family will grant your clan a Peak Steward position that can be passed down, along with subsidies for spiritual fields and spiritual rice. Your clan's disciples can also come here to study..."

Rui Qiongcuo nodded repeatedly. While the Li family's subsidies were certainly not as valuable as this immortal mountain, the opportunity to leave this dreadful place and gain favor with the main family made him inwardly weigh whether it was a gain or a loss. As Li Xijun offered reassurance, Li Xuanxuan, from inside the mountain, pointed to a spiritual spring and asked Kong Yu: "This spiritual spring has been affected by Azure Essence Copper, making it bone-chillingly cold and unsuitable for irrigating spiritual rice. I wonder if the spring will still exist after we move this mountain back? And if so, will it be able to water spiritual plants?"