Chapter 411: Reunion

Li Yuanjiao took the Dinglin Spike from his hand. The Forging Gold Gate favored spells involving stabs, daggers, and knives. This Dinglin Spike was oddly shaped, about six inches long, resembling a thin stick sharpened at both ends, excelling at piercing through surfaces with a single point.

Looking at Li Xijun, Li Yuanjiao frowned and said in a deep voice, "When we were battling within the formation earlier, you should have left promptly instead of staying here. If I couldn't defeat Situ Mo, at least I could have protected you."

With Kong Heng present, Li Xijun did not dare claim to see through the formation's intricacies, merely nodding in agreement. Li Yuanjiao's expression was grim. He instructed the two to draw out the spiritual water, which was almost complete, then whispered to Kong Heng, "I followed him the whole way. Situ Mo didn't trail us; he flew directly to this pool on the wind... He knows you and I are here!"

Kong Heng chanted a spell and replied, "Benefactor, do you mean... this person is acting under the guidance of a Purple Mansion expert?"

Li Yuanjiao's expression flickered between dark and light; he was already sixty percent certain. The moment he had considered using the sword intent of his Green Ruler Sword to utterly eliminate this person, the individual had abruptly vanished, further solidifying his suspicions.

"Not necessarily instructions," Li Yuanjiao said in a deep voice. "The Forging Gold Gate's Purple Mansion experts haven't been seen for a long time, and most of their territory has fallen under the actual control of the Xiuyue Sect. Perhaps some faction with a grudge against my Li family is secretly assisting him."

Kong Heng fell silent, muttering, "Perhaps... perhaps it's the Wrath Dao Lineage..."

As they spoke, the pond water before them churned like a boiling cauldron, slowly parting. A stream of spiritual water leaped out, pale white and crystalline, circled once, and settled into the jade bottle in Li Xijun's hand.

Li Xijun's face was still somewhat pale, but he exclaimed joyfully, "Uncle! It's the Clear Essence Spiritual Water!" Li Xuanxuan quickly leaned in, scrutinized it, and nodded in approval. "Indeed, it's the Clear Essence Spiritual Water! With this, several more members of our family can now master the third-grade eye technique, the 'Clear Sight Spirit Pupils'!"

This spiritual water was greatly beneficial for cultivating the Clear Sight Spirit Pupils; once refined, it could even serve as an excuse for any unusual phenomena in one's eyes. Li Xijun put it away. Li Yuanjiao simply said in a deep voice, "Leave quickly; don't linger."

The group ascended on the wind. Li Yuanjiao was deeply worried and uneasy, when suddenly, the jade pendants at their waists lit up, emitting a gentle glow.

"Hmm?" Everyone was startled. Li Xijun wondered, "Could it be that Aunt wasn't reassured and followed us here?"

"No..." Li Yuanjiao shook his head. He had specifically instructed Li Qinghong to stay at home; she wouldn't have come all this way. As he pondered this, a mystical spiritual mist enveloped him, concealing him in the sky until he vanished from sight.

Then, from a distance, a colorful light approached on the wind. A young man in brocade robes arrived on a rainbow, clad in a mystical feathered robe, with a jade crown in his dark hair. He held a swaddled infant in his arms and chuckled loudly, "Which fellow cultivators or seniors are here? Xizhi greets you!"

Li Xuanxuan nearly leaped on the spot, exclaiming with delight, "It's my Zhier!" Li Xijun, standing beside him, froze for a moment. He activated the white mist in his eyes and stared for three full breaths. Finding no traces of illusion on the person, he then said in surprise, "It really is Third Brother!"

Li Xizhi saw Li Xuanxuan approaching, his face showing shock. "Is that... Grandfather?" he gasped. He then pulled Li Xuanxuan closer, exclaiming in a choked voice, "It's only been twenty years since I left, Grandfather, why have you aged so much! This... this..."

Li Xuanxuan was now over eighty years old, yet his appearance was such that Li Xizhi wouldn't have found it strange to believe he was over a hundred; he simply stared blankly. Li Xuanxuan waved his hand, looking at him with deep contentment. "Good! This is truly good!"

Li Xijun, behind him, secretly smiled. He stepped forward, bowed, and said, "Xijun greets Third Brother!" "You, you, you!" Li Xizhi's heart swelled, his eyes slightly moist, and he laughed, "Good younger brother, after twenty years, you truly look like an immortal."

The two young men exchanged glances, a myriad of thoughts in their hearts, unsure how to speak. Li Xuanxuan quickly pulled him aside, pointed at Huaier in his arms, and tentatively asked, "This... this is."

Li Xizhi chuckled, saying gently, "Li Chenghuai." "Oh my!" Li Xuanxuan was overjoyed. Before he could say anything more, the mystical spiritual mist beside them dissipated. Li Yuanjiao, dressed in black robes, finally couldn't hold back. His face slightly flushed, he cursed, "Boy! You didn't even send a letter home about such an important matter!"

Li Xizhi stood stunned, allowing Li Xuanxuan to take Li Chenghuai from his arms. Scolded by his father, he was overcome with emotion, both joy and sorrow, and cried out, "Father!"

Li Yuanjiao raised an eyebrow and gazed at him for a long moment, the iridescent glow of the rainbow and his feathered robe shimmering on his face. Only then did he utter two words, his voice a little strained: "Good."

Li Xizhi had left home alone at ten, venturing deep into Green Pool, and had not seen his father for twenty years. Li Yuanjiao's letters were always serious and formal, never sentimental. Now, hearing his father's words, he burst into tears and replied, "Your son has been... walking on thin ice in Green Pool for twenty years, and I believe I have not betrayed the family's trust!"

The entire family fell silent. Li Yuanjiao stroked his back without a word. Li Xizhi quickly composed himself, wiped his face, and smiled, "I received a sect mission to guard Lippu Commandery, just up ahead! Please come with me and rest for a bit."

His gaze swept over Li Xijun, and he noticed his eighth brother's face was somewhat pale. He asked in confusion, "What happened to you...?" "Just a minor injury."

Li Xizhi frowned. He took out several jade bottles from his storage pouch, which all appeared to contain high-grade medicine. He said softly, "Take these quickly, settle down with me, and go into seclusion to heal. There's no time to delay!"

The group exchanged glances, agreed, and collectively flew north on the wind. Li Xizhi inquired about their injuries. Li Xijun recounted the incident with Situ Mo, which made Li Xizhi frown repeatedly. He said in a low voice, "I know this person! Situ Mo ranks among the top three disciples of this generation in the Forging Gold Gate. He has a domineering personality and a bad reputation."

"However..." He displayed a determined expression and replied, "But according to Eighth Brother's description... this person is definitely not mediocre. Although he has a domineering personality, he's not someone easy to deal with. We should find an opportunity to eliminate him!"

Li Yuanjiao, holding Li Chenghuai, observed carefully, saying calmly, "This person came directly towards us. Either he has a Purple Mansion expert backing him, or he obtained some crucial information. If he dies, the Forging Gold Gate will certainly know, which makes this very tricky."

He voiced his conjecture, expressing doubt: "Back then... Situ Mo's lineage was defeated in the power struggle... Rumor had it that the entire lineage was wiped out, which is why the elders dared to join forces to destroy the Ji family. But seeing Situ Mo like this, I fear those rumors might not be true."

Li Xijun nodded, coughed, and inferred, "This person possesses numerous treasures and profound spells. He must have powerful backing within the Forging Gold Gate; he doesn't appear to be acting alone..."

Li Xizhi recalled the records he had read within the sect. He said softly, "I've carefully studied the matters concerning the Forging Gold Gate; there are many secrets. The annihilation of one lineage and their subsequent allegiance to Green Pool back then was likely a forced act of submission. It's normal for them to secretly raise an orphan to preserve their bloodline." He continued, "Situ Mo should be Situ Yi's son from that time. As the orphan of a lineage, it's natural for him to be highly valued."

Li Xuanxuan whispered, "If that's the case, this person will be even harder to deal with... Openly killing him would likely invite furious retaliation from the Forging Gold Gate. It would be best to devise a plan..."

Li Xuanxuan's unspoken meaning was clear, and Li Yuanjiao also had his own thoughts. Though the family maintained a low profile, none of them were prone to hesitation. When a Foundation Establishment enemy suddenly emerged, they were neither afraid nor agitated, focusing only on how to eliminate him discreetly.

Li Xuanxuan murmured worriedly, "But we can't defeat this person in a direct fight. Only with the master and you siblings working together would there be a chance to eliminate him. Moreover, who knows how many trump cards he possesses? As a direct descendant of the Forging Gold Gate, surely he wouldn't lack life-saving treasures?"

The uncle and nephews each pondered their own thoughts, remaining silent. The group had already flown to Lippu Commandery, where numerous small hills and various villages were scattered. Li Xizhi's hand lit up; he took out a jade talisman, infused it with magic power, and said to his family, "Wait a moment."

After a moment, they saw two individuals rapidly approaching on the wind from ahead. Both were at the peak of Qi Refining, not young, and carried themselves with an elegant bearing, appearing to lead lives of privilege. They stopped before the group, and one respectfully said, "May I ask which of you is the celestial envoy from the Immortal Sect...?"

Li Xizhi tossed out a jade token and said softly, "Qingsui Peak, Qingdu Li Xizhi. My master is Yuan Tuan, from the Mushroom Forest Yuan family!"

Upon hearing this, the two immediately understood his background. They respectfully lowered their heads and submissively said, "Greetings, Lord! Greetings, Lord! This way, please... Many hands in the market are ready! Awaiting your inspection, Lord..."

Li Xizhi simply waved his hand and replied, "That's not urgent. Let them wait for now... These are my family members. They were attacked by villains on the road and suffered some minor injuries. Please take them and arrange for excellent spiritual medicine. Put the expenses on my account for now."

The two hastily replied, "Lord, you jest... There's no need for accounts; we'll attend to it right away." Li Xizhi narrowed his eyes and smiled. "Write it down." The two exchanged glances, then stammered subserviently, "Yes... yes..."

Li Xizhi had not come here to leave any vulnerabilities. He was not a direct descendant of the Chi family, nor had he allied himself with any powerful faction within the sect that would allow him to exploit resources without restraint.

'What an impressive display!' Li Xijun and Li Xuanxuan exchanged glances, then followed one of the men. The old man turned back, looked at Li Xuanxuan with a puzzled expression, and asked, "Have I met you before, Senior?"

Li Xuanxuan smiled, "This old man once ran a small shop in the Guanyun Peak market." "Oh, oh, oh! I used to be a manager there myself back then!"

The old man chuckled and replied a few words, then, as if recalling something, stopped awkwardly. Li Xuanxuan transmitted a message using a secret technique: "I've seen these two before... Back when my family wasn't a prominent clan, I was out selling talismans, and these two came to observe... They were so arrogant and imposing then! And now..."

Li Xuanxuan secretly smiled to himself. The old man had already brought out several spiritual items. Li Yuanjiao chose a few inexpensive ones to use and said in a deep voice, "We'll go into seclusion and rest here. We'll depart in a few days."

Li Xijun responded and went into seclusion with him. Li Xuanxuan remained in the courtyard, dealing with the man's incessant flattery, musing to himself, "A Green Pool disciple... truly impressive!"

At Wutu Peak, within the Li family residence, Li Ximing gently beckoned. The flames from the alchemy furnace leaped out, landing in his hand, transforming into long-flowing elemental fire. He opened his mouth and swallowed the flames into his abdomen.

"Qi Refining seventh level... it's been a while!" He had recently stabilized his cultivation and seized the opportunity to break through to the seventh level of Qi Refining, thus entering the late stage of Qi Refining. He had become a core combat force of the Li family, bringing him one step closer to Foundation Establishment.

Beside him, Meng Zhuoyun's clothes were partially undone, revealing her fair skin. She lay lazily on the ground, propped on her elbows, her pristine left hand holding a slender brush, while her other hand held down a portrait.

She was very relaxed, occasionally adding a stroke to the painting. Her legs were bent and crossed, and her upper body glowed in the sunlight, highlighting her delicate skin and slender waist that could be easily spanned by a hand.

Li Ximing undressed, rolled up her sleeves to partially reveal her fair skin, and then embraced her.

Meng Zhuoyun grunted as he turned her onto her back. The brush in her hand wavered slightly, and she said softly, "You've broken through again... with your talent, it's no wonder the Li family watches you so closely."

Li Ximing was quietly absorbed in his tasks, his lips pressed together. Meng Zhuoyun, however, couldn't stop talking, chattering a few sentences. Her red lips and white teeth constantly parted and closed in the sunlight, resembling a piece of blood-red spiritual jade, captivating Li Ximing. He said softly, "Don't seek revenge anymore; he's already dead. Just stay with my family and live a peaceful life."

"Hmm?" Meng Zhuoyun yawned and grunted twice, her face slightly flushed, her eyes seductive. Yet her tone held a hint of mockery: "Hmm? Be your cultivation cauldron for a lifetime?"

"What are you talking about! Mmm..." Li Ximing lifted her damp hair, arranging strands along her temples to reveal her smooth forehead. He uncharacteristically tried to persuade her, "This wouldn't harm you... Your former husband was only with you for half a year, and it was an arranged marriage. Am I not stronger than him?"

A trace of sorrow flashed across Meng Zhuoyun's face, and she said softly, "You are a genius; he is not as good as you."

"Exactly... since you didn't have much affection for him, what's the point of clinging to revenge?" Li Ximing was about to persuade her further, his mind calculating rapidly: 'This woman has Qi Refining cultivation and is a rare alchemist. As long as she commits to my family, I'll have this cultivation speed every year, and I won't have to spend time on those Qi-nourishing pills for cultivation! It's a win-win!'

"Yes, I didn't actually have much contact with him... it was just an arranged marriage... I was merely promised to him." Meng Zhuoyun, however, gasped twice, then shifted her tone, murmuring, "But he treated me like a human being..."

Her intelligent eyes suddenly fixed on him, and she said softly, "That man was intelligent but lacked power or background. He had no particularly good prospects and no hope of Foundation Establishment, so naturally, he couldn't compare to you... But he treated me like a human being... You have not a shred of sincerity."

Li Ximing paused, staring at her eyes, which had abruptly shifted from intoxicated and bewildered to resolute. Meng Zhuoyun continued, "But you treat me like a dog, an instrument, or something else entirely. You treat me like an object."

"When I cried out, when I was in pain, you'd just placate me. When you were satisfied, you'd cast me aside. When you were happy, I'd be treated with some dignity."

Her voice carried a hint of bitterness.

Li Ximing didn't respond. Instead, he suddenly grasped her. Meng Zhuoyun and he both let out a low sigh simultaneously. The man waited for two breaths, then performed a cleansing spell and said softly, "Today's pills are three types: calming, qi-assisting, and spirit-stabilizing. Don't forget to refine them."

After speaking, he dressed and turned to leave, without looking at her expression. Meng Zhuoyun, too lazy to tidy up, lay there on her back for a long time before finally rolling over, picking up the half-damp painting from the ground, and taking up the brush and ink again to add a few strokes.

The black ink spread, dissolving into a finger-sized smudge on the paper. Meng Zhuoyun sat naked on the ground, her chest out, beads of sweat rolling down her fair skin, tracing delicate curves along her thighs.

Meng Zhuoyun hung the painting, carefully examining it. In the painting, Li Ximing sat in a large chair, with her standing beside him, both smiling sweetly.

"Heh..." She let out a delicate, lingering cold laugh from her throat, like a moan. The light blue orchid in her hair shimmered in the sunlight.