Chapter 48: Xiao Yongling

The middle-aged steward's mind went blank. He groggily raised his head and saw two men, plainly dressed and wearing ordinary fur cloaks, drinking together in the shop. His arrogant and overbearing cousin was standing respectfully to the side.

"Daoist friend, what keen insight!" Wan Yuankai glanced at him, offered a compliment, and smiled. "Why don't you sit down and have a few drinks with us?"

"That's exactly what I had in mind!" The richly dressed young man sat down nonchalantly on the rickety wooden stool. The stool immediately let out a series of creaking sounds, as if it would fall apart any moment, which greatly bewildered the middle-aged steward.

"I am Xiao Yongling from the Xiao family in Xia Commandery, under the rule of Qingchi. Greetings, Daoist friends." Xiao Yongling smiled politely. He took the wine bowl offered by Li Tongya and thanked him before speaking. "And you two, if I may ask?"

"Wan Yuankai of the Wan family from Huaqian, under the rule of Qingchi."

"Li Tongya of the Li family from Lijing, under the rule of Qingchi."

Seeing his humility, both men felt a strong positive impression and responded just as politely. Xiao Yongling's smile remained unchanged when he heard "Huaqian Wan family." However, when he heard "Lijing Li family," he was greatly surprised and repeatedly asked, "Might that be the Lijing Li family from by Moonview Lake?!"

"That's correct. I didn't expect my Li family, having only recently embarked on the path of cultivation and being of modest means, to be known to a distinguished noble clan like yours." Li Tongya was also surprised and secretly thought of Xiao Yuansi. Wan Yuankai felt even more awkward and mused, "It's normal for a prominent clan like the Xiao family not to pay much attention to my Wan family. But the Li family, they've only been cultivating for a few years, how did their name reach the Xiao family's ears so quickly?!"

"Hahahaha." Xiao Yongling chuckled a few times and politely explained, "My clan uncle is Xiao Yuansi of Qinghui Peak. Both our families are located near Qinghui Peak, so naturally, we've heard of each other."

"I see!" Wan Yuankai's heart sank. He then remembered that the Li family had a disciple studying under the Qingchi Sect. A mix of emotions instantly welled up within him. He then looked at Xiao Yongling and said, "Daoist friend, to have achieved the Jade Capital realm at such a young age, truly remarkable cultivation."

Xiao Yongling paused instantly and replied awkwardly, "Yongling is only at the Inherited Brightness Wheel realm. It's merely because I am a direct descendant of the main Xiao clan, and my elders bestowed upon me a treasure that can identify the cultivation of others. That's how I recognized you two; it's not the spiritual sense of the Jade Capital Wheel."

"I was too hasty!" Wan Yuankai also felt a pang of embarrassment. He repeatedly clasped his hands in apology.

Xiao Yongling dismissed it, waved his hand, and spoke with a triumphant look, "You gentlemen are here to pay your tribute, aren't you?"

"Precisely." Li Tongya and the other man exchanged a glance. Seeing Xiao Yongling's gossipy expression, they found it amusing and adopted an attentive posture, ready to listen.

"The area from Moonview Lake to Lixia Commandery is all under the jurisdiction of Moon Lake Peak. Currently, Moon Lake Peak has four disciples remaining. Do you two know which envoy is coming?"

"We don't know..."

"It's Immortal Autumn Lake, Ning Wan!" Xiao Yongling's face was beaming with pride. Seeing the two men's confused expressions, he paused and then began to explain, "This Ning Wan refined the Pine Forest North Wind to cultivate her Qi, and she's especially skilled in formations. She broke through to the eighth layer of Qi Condensation at just twenty-four. I've heard she's a top-tier beauty who usually doesn't involve herself in mundane affairs. If the other disciples of Moon Lake Peak weren't all busy, she wouldn't have taken on this task of collecting tribute."

Xiao Yongling explained volubly. Then he suddenly stopped, looked at Wan Yuankai with a puzzled expression, and asked, "Speaking of formations, does your Wan family have any heritage in that regard? The Huaqian Wan family always sounds a bit familiar."

"Of course we do." Wan Yuankai had been holding back for a long time. His eyes lit up at these words, and he explained with considerable pride, "Two hundred years ago, my Wan family produced a formation grandmaster named Wan Huaqian. Huaqian Mountain is named after him."

"I see..." Xiao Yongling nodded and chimed in, "I've read the clan's historical records; they mention Wan Huaqian. Our family speculates that he inherited the legacy of a cultivator who fell in that great war back then."

Hearing something of interest, Li Tongya, fearing the man would shift the topic back to Ning Wan's beauty, quickly asked, "Might I ask about that great war...?"

Xiao Yongling shook his head, pondered for a few breaths, and said softly, "My clan's records are also vague about that war. We only heard that someone, under the banner of the Moon Essence Primeval Palace, a supreme sect, sought to command all three sects and ten gates. In the end, the three sects rose up and attacked him, and he died above Moonview Lake."

"How arrogant." Wan Yuankai gasped. He couldn't help but feel a hint of reverence for that person.

"That war was so fierce it caused rivers to run dry and the earth's spiritual veins to break. Fifteen Foundation Establishment cultivators from the three sects died, along with dozens of Qi Condensation cultivators. Even two revered Purple Mansion cultivators perished, and out of the ten gates, only seven remained." Li Tongya also sighed with emotion. Before his eyes, it was as if a scene from three hundred years ago appeared: mountains broken and rivers flowing backward.

"You know, a Purple Mansion cultivator lives for five hundred years. After all that hardship to reach the Purple Mansion realm, why not just enjoy life instead of fighting to the death with others?" Wan Yuankai sighed, lamenting with a touch of regret.

"Hahahahaha, we minor cultivators only seek Qi Condensation in this life. Naturally, we can't comprehend the ways of those exalted grand cultivators." Xiao Yongling laughed heartily. He took a sip of snowflake wine. He picked up his chopsticks and surveyed the side dishes on the table, then awkwardly put them down, secretly thinking, "Only the wine here is drinkable."

"Brother Xiao, do you know what the Pine Forest North Wind is?" Li Tongya, knowing his family's shallow foundation, did not miss any opportunity to gather information. Following Xiao Yongling's lead, he asked.

"To advance from Fetal Breath to Qi Condensation, one must absorb a wisp of spiritual energy from heaven and earth. The Pine Forest North Wind is one such source. You must find a pine and cypress forest in freezing, snowy lands, and when the north wind blows, collect it using a unique secret method. One wisp is obtained in six months, and it takes five years on a snowy peak to complete. If you wait for the snow every year, it might take more than ten years." Xiao Yongling smiled slightly and explained.

"I see!"

After a few more exchanges, Xiao Yongling waved his hand and smiled, "It's getting late, so I won't delay your journey to Guanyun Peak. Let us part ways here. If you two ever visit Lixia Commandery in the future, please do come find Yongling, and we can enjoy drinks and conversation again!"

"Naturally!" Xiao Yongling smiled as he bid farewell to the two men. He then left the shop, accompanied by his retinue, and headed east.

After only a few steps, Xiao Yongling appeared to be deep in thought. The middle-aged steward did not dare to disturb him and could only walk behind him, bowing respectfully and following his every step. The middle-aged steward was observing Xiao Yongling's expression when he heard someone quietly ask from behind, "Isn't this young master always known for his arrogance and overbearing manner? Why is he so restrained and polite today? Not only those two, but even we are stunned."

"Idiot!" The middle-aged steward stepped back. He slapped the person hard on the head, then leaned in and whispered into their ear, "Do you really think mere mortals like you count as people in the young master's eyes? Who speaks nicely to a dog?!"