Chapter 423: Shock

Commander Chen felt a chill down his neck. He touched his waist, and the jade pendant was already gone. He looked up again, and a black flame had appeared before him. He only had time to raise his hands to defend, then rolled over with a thud. Xu Xiao glanced at him disdainfully.

"What trash cultivation is this?"

Commander Chen, knocked to the ground by a cultivator at the third level of Embryonic Breath, had already realized something was wrong. He assumed it was a demon possessing him, and his heart was filled with terror. With the jade token on his waist, which he used for communication, now gone, he opened his mouth to shout.

"Subdue!"

A gleaming red token abruptly appeared in Xu Xiao's hand. Its borders were smooth, black on top and red on the bottom, with several ancient seal characters embossed on it. As he let out a soft cry, the token emitted a gentle red light and flew out like lightning.

Commander Chen uttered two gasping sounds, then knelt to the ground with a thud. His hands fell limply. In just one encounter, his mind had been subdued, leaving him at another's mercy.

Fearing that prolonged delay would attract other Jade Court Guards, Xu Xiao seized the moment. He still formed the black mark in his hand and easily stepped forward, forming a hand seal to cast a spell, striking his chest with a palm.

Whether injured or dead, a Jade Court Guard was a significant matter. Xu Xiao had held back his strength when fighting him earlier and now did not punch him to death. Instead, he used the same method, implanting a spell formula within him. Only then did he put away the token, watching the man slowly awaken from his daze.

Commander Chen's mind was hazy. It took several breaths for him to suddenly regain clarity. His eyes, when he looked at Xu Xiao again, were filled with terror. He gritted his teeth, picked up his long saber, and seemed ready to put up a desperate fight.

Xu Xiao sneered:

"Commander Chen... think carefully. Now, you and I are on the same boat!"

Commander Chen immediately reacted, thinking, "This is bad." His spiritual sense circulated within his body. He dejectedly dropped his saber. A wave of desolation rose in his heart, but he had no intention of colluding with Xu Xiao.

'No... it doesn't matter if I die, but my family, old and young... they cannot be harmed because of me.'

So he forced himself to ask:

"Who exactly are you?!"

Xu Xiao quietly watched him, then whispered:

"I know your family, old and young, are all on the Li family's territory... I won't force you. Just pretend neither of us saw anything. That way, you can save your own life, and the lives of your family, old and young..."

"Just pretend you didn't see me and let me leave like this. When the time comes, I'll take Ling Zhen and depart... I promise not to cause any trouble!"

He handled it just right. Coupled with the magic treasure's ability to influence minds, he turned and left with great confidence.

Commander Chen's heart stirred. He stared blankly as Xu Xiao left. A fierce internal struggle raged within him. He silently swallowed the bitter pill. He soared into the sky on the wind and flew towards the mountains as if nothing had happened.

Xu Xiao, on his side, looked up and watched him fly away.

There was no benefit, only harm, and he'd also risk his own life – Xu Xiao was absolutely certain of this...

He leisurely made his way back home.

Inside the great hall, Li Chengliao sat at the head, holding a jade slip. The hall was very spacious. Standing a step away from him was a tall white monkey, carrying a staff on its back, its aged face full of solemnity.

The white monkey had reached the eighth level of Qi Cultivation, could not speak, and rarely communicated with others. It was a loyal, solitary minister in the Li family, responsible for guarding Li Chengliao.

Kneeling at the lower end was Chen Mufeng, reporting with his head bowed.

"You said... that Xu Xiao took two blows from old man Liu and left wounded?"

Li Chengliao sat at the head, listening to Chen Mufeng's respectful reply from below. After two breaths of thought, his brows relaxed, and he said with some shame:

"It seems I was jealous of his talent and harmed him."

Chen Mufeng, below, dared not respond. Li Chengliao, being of a generous disposition, gently said:

"Since that's the case, the matter between the Liu family and me is settled. However, old man Liu is short-sighted and will inevitably pressure his daughter. Go summon him; I will explain everything clearly to him. Don't make things difficult for the two of them."

"Yes, sir!"

Chen Mufeng respectfully withdrew. Li Chengliao then thought about how to resolve the matter and return to the mountains for cultivation as soon as possible, thinking to himself:

"Although Xu Xiao appears to have some ability, he seems unwilling to be subordinate to others. When the opportunity arises, I'll win him over, send him off with some spirit stones; my temple is too small to house such a great Buddha..."

Just as he was thinking, an old man tremblingly ascended from below—it was precisely old man Liu. Usually arrogant in the manor, he could only remain kneeling in this hall.

"Liu Shi, Liu Yi, greets the Family Head!"

He was covered in sweat and respectfully answered.

"Family Head Liu... since your Ling Zhen and the Xu family's son are deeply in love, you should grant them this favor and not hinder them... Let them settle their engagement, and then get married... I can even be considered a matchmaker..."

Li Chengliao, reading the jade slip in his hand and sipping tea with lowered brows, casually gave this instruction.

When old man Liu was young, he was a dissolute scoundrel, yet he had witnessed and heard about the early rise of the Li family. He was terrified by what he heard, and had even met Li Tongya once because of Liu Rouxuan.

At that time, he was still young, kneeling below, trembling and not daring to lift his head. He only heard Li Tongya call him by his full name, Liu Yi, and ask a few questions about the Liu family's situation, which made his legs turn to jelly in fright.

Now, being old, he at least understood the gravity of the situation and the stakes. Yet, with his life and death in another's hands, it was hard for him to speak. Li Chengliao, receiving no answer, raised an eyebrow and glanced at him.

"Hm?"

He was instantly terrified out of his wits. Wanting to cover for Xu Xiao to save his own life, yet he was timid and sweating profusely. Before Li Chengliao could speak, he was already kowtowing repeatedly, whimpering.

Li Chengliao's smile gradually faded as he observed him closely. He stepped down, his jade boots beneath his brocade robe making crisp sounds on the steps. He remained silent, watching the old man's sweat dampen the ground, and then understood. He said in a deep voice:

"Liu Yi, what's going on?"

The words "Liu Yi" struck his ears like thunder. It made his legs tremble, finally crushing him. He cried:

"Ancestor, Xu..."

He only managed to utter one word. The white ape behind Li Chengliao suddenly opened its eyes, stepped forward, and reached out to grab old man Liu.

But how could it still be in time? Black flames erupted from Liu Yi's limbs and bones, then violently burst from his chest and abdomen, spraying blood throughout the hall, with his internal organs splattering everywhere.

Black blood, like a fountain, sprayed and danced throughout the hall. Li Chengliao stepped back, but his robe's hem was still splattered with black blood, which had also sporadically landed on his chest and collar. Amidst the boiling black blood, a black mark leaped out, ready to soar away. However, a large, furry hand reached out, skillfully clutching the black light. The black light strained to break free but struggled within the surging demonic energy. Although its level was much higher, the demonic energy was vast, forcibly grinding it away until it dissolved.

The white monkey retracted its hand and stepped back. Li Chengliao wiped the blood from his collar, unfastened his brocade robe, and draped it over his elbow.

"Commander Chen!"

Li Chengliao suddenly called out, then smoothly hung his robe on the back of a chair. Chen Mufeng, who had rushed in earlier, his pupils dilated as he looked at the black blood staining the floor. He knelt with a thud and said in a trembling voice:

"This subordinate acknowledges his guilt."

Regret filled his heart; he was both startled and resentful of Xu Xiao. There was also a slight sense of relief. At least the one before him was a junior; if it had been Li Yuanping, he would have been kicked already, with no chance to speak.

Li Chengliao, his back to him, suppressed his anger and said:

"Why are you kneeling? Immediately gather everyone and first keep an eye on the Xu family! Xu Xiao might not even know yet!"

Chen Mufeng leaped from the ground and rushed out the door, carried by the wind. Li Chengliao's voice still echoed in the courtyard:

"If you let him escape, don't bother coming back."

Chen Mufeng hastily responded and immediately departed. Li Chengliao, still disturbed by the old incident involving Chu Yi from Yufu Commandery, was greatly uneasy. He knew many secrets, and his thoughts had not been influenced before or after; at least, this Xu Xiao was not as formidable as Chu Yi.

"With the precedents of the Kong family and Chu Yi, this matter cannot be neglected."

He waved for someone to come forward and instructed:

"Have someone keep an eye on the Liu family, especially Liu Lingzhen."

At this moment, Li Chengliao harbored no thoughts of being a good person or fearing harm to his reputation. His heart was filled only with fear, hatred, and murderous intent. He immediately ordered the white monkey to take him, riding the wind, towards Mount Qingdu.

As soon as Li Chengliao reached the mountain, the great hall was already empty, with only a young woman sitting in the courtyard combing her hair, with phoenix eyes and willow eyebrows. Li Chengliao's heart sank, his face grew grim, but he still spoke:

"Aunt."

Li Yuexiang was younger than him but held a much higher seniority. Seeing Li Chengliao's appearance, she asked:

"Why are you so anxious? My elder brother has already entered seclusion."

Upon hearing that Li Xijun was in seclusion, Li Chengliao thought, "This is bad." Li Yuexiang said:

'Oh no!'

Although telling Li Yuexiang wouldn't be of much help, Li Chengliao still made a long story short, briefly recounting the events.

After listening, Li Yuexiang put down her comb, pondering, and replied:

"He has a destiny, which is why elder brother suddenly went into seclusion, and why Grandfather and Elder Donghe took a group of Qi Cultivators to congratulate True Master Houfu, leaving our fighting force weakened?"

Li Yuexiang's reminder instantly startled Li Chengliao. Only then did he recall that the esteemed Qi Cultivators from his family had gone east, and he said hoarsely:

"Does destiny truly possess such divine power?! It must be a coincidence!"

Li Yuexiang tied up her hair and replied:

"First, don't lose your composure. Elder brother gave me a jade stone before he went into seclusion; it can summon him out. You keep an eye on his movements; do you want to try it?"

Li Chengliao nodded decisively and said in a deep voice:

"Please awaken Eighth Uncle. This matter is too important; it's better to kill by mistake than to let someone go. If there are any problems, I will bear all responsibility."

Li Yuexiang took a jade pendant from her sleeve and whispered:

"What 'bear responsibility,' don't talk nonsense!"

With a slight squeeze, she crushed the jade pendant into dust.

Qingdu Cave Abode.

Li Xijun, his face slightly pale, stepped out of the cave abode. Several people were already waiting for him. He looked around, took a small letter, and a Jade Court Guard came forward from below, respectfully saying:

"Reporting, Sir, the Clan Head's courtyard has reported... that Young Master Chengliao... has encountered some trouble."

"Young Master Chengliao?"

Li Xijun frowned. The talent of the Chengming generation of the Li family was not outstanding; besides Li Chenghuai, who was highly anticipated and just beginning to understand things, in his memory, only Li Chengxun's eldest son, Li Chengliao, was considered broad-minded and conformist. He asked:

"What's wrong?"

"Reportedly... there was a conflict with the Xu family in a town... over a woman."

"What?!"

Li Chengliao had performed well all these years on the mountain, and Li Xijun never expected such an incident to occur as soon as he descended. Li Xijun's expression was displeased upon hearing this, but without full details, he did not comment. Instead, he whispered:

"This matter can wait; it's not urgent. Bring Yuexiang up to see me."

Li Yuexiang had urgently woken him; something must have happened. Li Xijun's first thought was that something had happened to an elder overseas, that a jade talisman had shattered, requiring a call for aid, leaving him deeply unsettled.

He then stood up. Another person hurriedly ascended from below, respectfully saying:

"Sir, Miss and Young Master have come to pay their respects."

Li Xijun sat down again and waved his hand:

"Let them come up."

Li Yuexiang and the other person quickly stepped forward. Li Xijun, still unclear about the situation, amiably asked them to sit. Li Chengliao didn't even have time to sit down and whispered:

"Eighth Uncle! There's someone down the mountain who might possess a powerful destiny, possibly repeating the events with Chu Yi."

These words were completely unexpected and far more serious than he had imagined. Li Xijun raised his eyebrows, startled, and said in a deep voice:

"Where is this person? Have they caused trouble? How far have they gone?"

"Chengliao has already stabilized him. He's not as terrifying as Chu Yi, but he's just as strange. He might possess a powerful destiny and should not be underestimated."

Li Xijun rubbed the jade pendant at his waist. After a breath, the lake beside Qingdu began to boil, and a strong demonic wind swept through the courtyard. A young man in black first hastily landed inside, his sinister, snake-like eyes scanning the surroundings before he bowed his head and said:

"Young Master, have you summoned your subordinate for instructions?"

Li Wushao's two hooks on his tail had long been cultivated to completion. His combat strength had finally reached a decent level, and Li Yuanjiao had arranged for him to guard and cultivate at home. Li Xijun softly said:

"There's trouble at home; I'll have to trouble Senior Wushao."

Two dark lights circled within the shadow beneath Li Wushao's feet. He nodded and retreated behind Li Xijun. Li Xijun said:

"Let's go! Let's see!"

Li Chengliao nodded. Li Xijun suddenly hesitated again, reaching out to stop his sister, Li Yuexiang, and said in a deep voice:

"You two are not allowed to go. Such people are often strangely unpredictable and might employ sinister tactics."

Li Yuexiang paused slightly, took out a talisman from her sleeve, and put it into her brother's embrace:

"Brother! This is what Father left me. Take it for protection... We don't know what cultivation level that person is at, and you should also be careful that he might be hiding his true identity."

Li Xijun nodded silently, then ascended on the wind, rapidly descending towards the town. From a distance, he saw several figures patrolling above the town, moving in a seemingly relaxed but actually vigilant manner. The entire Li family appeared normal, yet they had silently heightened their alert.

A Jade Court Guard beside him relayed the preceding and following information into his ear. Leading him to look at the Xu family's gate from a distance, he whispered:

"Sir, this person is at the third level of Embryonic Breath cultivation. Should we send someone to test him and lure this Xu family 'demon disciple' out for you to observe properly?"

"No need for such trouble."

Li Xijun, in response, performed an invisibility spell and stood in the clouds. He did not descend to probe with his spiritual sense. Instead, white light, like frost and snow, like clouds and mist, appeared in his eyes as he gazed intently.

The Xu family's protective formation was quite crude, serving only to separate inside from outside. Under the enhancement of his current eye technique and talismanic energy, it quickly faded. With a single glance, Li Xijun immediately discovered the handsome young man in the courtyard.

"Qi Cultivation Level Three?!"