Chapter 436: Please Request (Yelü Zhiwu, Alliance Leader)

"Oh, oh, oh," Li Xuanxuan responded with a touch of melancholy. He adjusted his sleeves and sat on the mountain for a while, watching the two younger ones chat. Feeling somewhat out of place, he eventually returned to drawing talismans. As the two juniors saw him off, Li Ximing remarked with emotion, "Grandfather's spirits seem to have improved greatly!"

Li Xijun nodded and quietly said, "Although the elder's cultivation isn't high, he has experienced a great deal. We can find answers to many long-forgotten matters from him, and seeing him in good spirits reassures us."

As they walked side by side, Li Ximing, dressed in a luxurious golden Daoist robe, paused and softly said, "I've only heard that this Second Uncle-Grandfather's archery is legendary, rarely seen in this era. His golden bow is invincible. If he could return home, it would be like having a stabilizing force for the family."

"I think it'll be difficult," Li Xijun replied. "Once someone enters the Southern Border, it's not common for them to easily leave." He seemed to be deep in thought.

Li Xuanfeng had already gone to the Southern Border before either of them were born. Li Xijun had never actually met him, only hearing about him through books and from elders. His overwhelming joy was mostly due to the family gaining another mid-Foundation Establishment elder, a feeling quite different from Li Xuanxuan's. Now, having calmed down, he began to consider the situation.

As expected, Li Ximing, who was beside him, asked curiously, "Since Second Uncle-Grandfather has left the Southern Border, why doesn't he take some time to return home...? Does he have a mission?""Probably," Li Xijun replied. He paused, then hesitated. "I heard... a Ning family member married him. So many years have passed; perhaps he already has descendants... It's possible some children in the Southern Border are, in fact, our elders." He continued, "As for why he hasn't returned home... the higher-ups must have their reasons. Perhaps his family has been held as leverage, forcing him to obey Qingchi's commands."

Li Ximing nodded in agreement, "That makes sense."

The two pondered for a while. Li Ximing then returned to Wutu Peak to continue researching the elixir. Li Xijun wrote a letter to his aunt, Li Qinghong, who was in seclusion, and also dispatched another letter to Zongquan Island. He then quietly resumed his own cultivation.

Fenkuai Island, Qingchi Market.

Li Xuanfeng circled the surrounding sea, familiarizing himself with the terrain and gathering detailed information about Fenkuai Island. Only then did he return to the market.

Fenkuai Island's geomantic energy is very peculiar, thus, formations cannot be established on the island itself. Qingchi's market stalls are all set up on the seabed nearby. Li Xuanfeng investigated briefly and found that the geomantic energy there wasn't much better; it relied entirely on the high grade of the formations.

Fenkuai Island itself is rich in spiritual energy and abundant in treasures, featuring various strange territories. On the island are many straits, extending deep into the earth, dark and profound. Their internal spaces are vast and boundless, said to have been left behind during battles between immortals.

The entire Fenkuai Island resembles a large entrance, connecting to layers upon layers of underground rifts and straits. Many cultivators gather spiritual energy here, while demonic cultivators plunder and kill within the ravines. The deeper one goes, the more chaotic it becomes.

He explored the island's surface without venturing deep, then quietly returned to the market. To his surprise, a Qingchi cultivator had been waiting by his cave dwelling.

"Greetings, Daoist," the cultivator said, "My lord requests your presence; he has been waiting for a long time."

Li Xuanfeng recognized him as one of Ning Heyuan's people at a glance. He nodded and followed him to Ning Heyuan's cave dwelling. The door to the dwelling was open, and dense spiritual energy flowed out. Inside, Ning Heyuan was pouring and drinking by himself.

"Brother-in-law has arrived!" Ning Heyuan exclaimed, welcoming him to sit down. His face was slightly flushed, indicating he had already drunk a good deal. He poured wine for Li Xuanfeng and then said, "Speaking of which, I also have quite a connection with the Li family..."

Li Xuanfeng nodded, thinking to himself, 'Why is he trying to get close to me? Does he have a favor to ask?'

He watched silently. Ning Heyuan immediately seemed like a junior in front of him, his tone polite. "Back then, when I accompanied my aunt to Moon-Gazing Lake, I originally intended to learn your esteemed clan's sword techniques. I exchanged a few moves with Daoist Qinghong on the mountain and we introduced ourselves. I was slightly outmatched, and only then did I realize the strength of your esteemed clan's heritage."

His words were overly humble, making Li Xuanfeng quite surprised. Li Qinghong, at the Qi Condensation stage, could never have been Ning Heyuan's opponent; at most, she might have held her own slightly when confronting his lightning spells. He said this merely to flatter the Li family. Li Xuanfeng immediately said, "Junior brother, there's no need to be so polite. I know Qinghong's strength; she is no match for you."

Ning Heyuan offered a polite reply. Since Li Xuanfeng had put it that way, he didn't press the point further. Instead, he continued, "Brother-in-law! Even overseas, I've heard of your reputation... The True Immortal trusts you greatly... In the past hundred years, few have been so heavily relied upon by him..."

Li Xuanfeng naturally knew that the True Immortal treated him well. He silently waited for him to continue. As expected, Ning Heyuan hesitated. "When brother-in-law returns, could you please ask for me... how much longer I must stay in the East Sea?"

Li Xuanfeng lowered his gaze and remained silent. Ning Heyuan immediately grew anxious and said politely, "I've asked several times... but the True Immortal refuses to see me. Heyuan already knows his mistake... Back then, I was young and reckless, thinking my Ning family, being a century-long ally of the Chi family, could exploit the families under our rule as we pleased... Having spent so many years in the East Sea, I now understand that without the True Immortal, my Ning family would be nothing more than the Chi family's pawns... Heyuan truly knows his mistake... I beg you, Daoist, please ask for me..."

Li Xuanfeng observed his appearance. Ning Heyuan's talent was indeed excellent, and he possessed many spells; he should have been a figure of Ning Wan's caliber. Yet he had wasted ten years in the East Sea. Not only had his reputation not grown, but his cultivation had also been delayed.

Now, his face was shadowed with gloom, and he exuded a sense of dejection—a stark contrast to his spirited demeanor of old. Li Xuanfeng said softly, "This matter is not urgent. I still have a year or a year and a half before I return to report. If Daoist friend prepares your words carefully, I can take a letter back for you."

Ning Heyuan was slightly stunned by his words. His plea for intervention had turned into a request for letter delivery. Ning Heyuan gave a wry smile, realizing that Li Xuanfeng was no simple character. He thought to himself, 'I was too hasty; I need to take things slowly. First, I must build a good relationship with him and use my sister's connection to influence him... This calls for a long-term plan.'

So Ning Heyuan offered an apology, took a sip of wine, and nodded, saying, "It's not urgent. If Daoist has any needs in the market, please do not hesitate to ask me."

Li Xuanfeng nodded and said directly, "I have just come from the Southern Border, and some information is hard to obtain there. In the future, if anything comes up, I'll have to trouble you, junior brother."

Ning Heyuan nodded repeatedly, busily seeing him off. Only then did he return to his cave dwelling. He sat blankly before his jade table and, after a long while, softly said, "I thought he was merely the True Immortal's blade... but I didn't expect him to be a hunting falcon trained by the elder. No wonder... no wonder he, from such a minor clan, gained the True Immortal's favor and had Sister Hemian married to him."

Ning Heyuan recalled Li Xuanfeng's attire and demeanor, that golden metal longbow tempered countless times, and combined this with some recent rumors he had heard. He couldn't help but let out a cold laugh. "Clad in armor and robes, with eyes like an eagle... it seems someone is about to face misfortune!"