Chapter 480: Yuan Clan Becomes a Shield

An Zheyin entered the mountains and returned to the hall within two hours. The Family Head, Li Xicheng, and the heir apparent were gone, leaving only Li Chengliao seated by a table.

The setting sun cast long shadows in the hall. Li Chengliao gazed thoughtfully at the teacup on the table as An Zheyin bowed and reported:

"Young Master, the matter has been handled. The Yu family is in disarray, on the verge of splintering. After a few days of internal struggle, a new situation should emerge."

Li Chengliao nodded slightly and replied, "Thank you for your hard work, Feng Jin."

An Zheyin, whose family position was Feng Jin, nodded upon hearing this and withdrew. Li Chengliao then summoned Dou Yi and said, "Mulin County will be ours sooner or later, and we cannot let them ruin it carelessly."

Dou Yi quickly understood and responded, "I'll immediately send our own people to warn them!"

"Good," Li Chengliao said softly. "They can fight however they wish, but if they massacre civilians or destroy spiritual fields, they shouldn't blame us for settling accounts later."

Dou Yi bowed and withdrew. Li Chengliao's expression was displeased. He silently rotated his teacup.

There were unspoken reasons and personal considerations why his father, Li Xicheng, and Li Chengliao had been slow to act against the Yu family. Primarily, the family held deep hatred for the Yu family, especially the elders who had never forgotten the murder of Young Master Yuan Xiu years ago. These individuals had significant influence within the clan. They wished to utterly destroy the Yu family when they invaded Mulin County, seeking blood for blood, rather than seeing it messy split into families like Chi or Lu.

Even Li Xicheng and Li Chengliao, father and son, were aligned with these sentiments. Neither possessed exceptionally outstanding cultivation, but their greatest desire was to leave a mark in historical records, making their lives worthwhile. Little more was needed than the simple phrase, "In the seventh month of autumn, Young Master Liao crushed the Yu clan." For Li Chengliao, that alone would make his life complete. To merely "crush the Chi" or "crush the Lu" would lack the same prestige.

"Still, no matter what, we must ensure the Yu family has no path to survival." He took a sip of tea, musing to himself, "Satisfaction often conflicts with caution; one must always concede a little."

Li Chengliao stood up. After arranging matters below the mountain, he ascended on the wind, flying towards Qingdu Mountain.

With Li Xijun in seclusion, Qingdu Peak was managed by Li Xuanxuan, assisted by Li Yuexiang and Li Chengliao. As Li Chengliao landed on the mountain, he saw Li Yuexiang standing, clad in white, holding a sword.

Li Yuexiang practiced the "Pheasant Fire Long Journey Art." Her early Qi Cultivation stage already possessed nascent power, with deep red flames swirling around her, lingering on her longsword.

Li Yuexiang's swordplay was commendable. With a graceful flick of her slender wrist, she made the Pheasant Fire fall like petals, a beautiful sight. After concluding her sword dance, she sheathed her sword, turned her phoenix eyes to Li Chengliao, and asked, "How was it?"

"No major issues," Li Chengliao replied briefly, preparing to elaborate, but then saw the grand formation above the peak transform into bursts of green light as a powerful male voice resonated:

"Yuan Chengdun of Xunlin is here to visit. Please open the grand formation!"

"The Yuan family has arrived!"

Both their expressions changed. Li Yuexiang ascended on a cloud of fire as Qingdu's Azure Ox River Embrace Formation slowly opened an aperture. She blinked, then bowed respectfully and said softly, "Li Yuexiang of Qingdu greets Senior!"

The man before them was imposing and dignified, exuding an inviolable presence. Two short, intricately patterned staffs hung at his waist, glowing with a yellowish-green spiritual light. His cultivation had reached the late Foundation Establishment stage, indicating profound skill. This was precisely Yuan Chengdun, the renowned 'Vanquisher of Green Mountains' from the Yuan family, hailed as their greatest genius in the past century. Despite being only just over sixty years old, he had already achieved late Foundation Establishment.

He spoke softly, his voice rich, deep, and resonant: "Are you the descendant of an old friend?"

Li Yuexiang invited him into the formation, saying gently, "My father is Li Yuanjiao."

Yuan Chengdun fell silent for a moment, then replied, "Your father and I shared a bond and fought side-by-side. I never saw him exert his full power then... I never imagined he would contend with that person from the Yu family..."

Yuan Chengdun and Li Yuanjiao had once jointly slain a pig demon and later confronted Fu Daimu of the Mountain Yue, hence his remarks. Li Yuexiang had heard these words countless times over the years. She simply led him down, briefly offered incense for Li Yuanjiao, and then guided him directly into the main hall.

The Yuan family was currently in considerable disarray, unable to spare resources. As a central figure in this turmoil, Yuan Chengdun's visit was naturally not merely a courtesy call. He accompanied her into the main hall, where Li Xuanxuan was already waiting.

Yuan Chengdun and Li Yuanjiao were peers. Upon seeing Li Xuanxuan, Yuan Chengdun respectfully addressed him as an elder. Given Li Xuanxuan's formidable reputation, only his younger brother within the family could likely contend with him. Li Xuanxuan, not daring to presume, exchanged a few polite words.

Yuan Chengdun got straight to the point, saying directly, "Xizhi is my aunt's eldest disciple, so you must know some news. My aunt has been missing in the East Sea for two full years now, with no word. Those short-sighted people in the family are still squabbling amongst themselves..."

Yuan Chengdun paused, then said in a deep voice, "I'm too lazy to contend with them, so I've left it to them. I plan to go to the East Sea; I've received some intelligence that she might be near the Qunyi Strait. I'll search for my aunt first."

He was a direct speaker, stating his intentions plainly in just a few sentences. Li Xuanxuan politely said, "Peak Master, with Heaven's favor, you will surely be safe."

"Thank you for your auspicious words, Senior." Yuan Chengdun's voice, rich as mountain stone, continued, "This Yuan family... there's little for me to be fond of. I've only served them for years out of gratitude to my Uncle Hu Yuan. Now that I'm going to the East Sea, there's one more matter I can't let go of. I have a son."

Yuan Chengdun's pause immediately alerted Li Yuexiang. Her phoenix eyes lifted slightly, and she listened intently. "He is my only child... I fear that if I go to the East Sea, his whereabouts will be uncertain, and his safety unpredictable. Should anything happen to me in the East Sea, my clan uncle may not be able to protect him."

At this point, the man, usually so magnanimous and formidable, seemed a little embarrassed. He whispered, "I heard Yuexiang is still unmarried. Presuming on our past friendship, I've brazenly come to ask if we could form an alliance through marriage... it would be greatly beneficial." He patted his chest, adding as if to compensate, "I can't promise anything else, but I've fought countless battles and slain numerous demons over the years. This betrothal gift... will surely satisfy you, Senior!"

"This..." Li Xuanxuan froze for a full breath. He turned his head to look at the girl in white, whose phoenix eyes were fixed intently on him. This gaze was far too familiar, striking his cheek like lightning, making his face numb and his legs weak.

Li Xuanxuan paused, momentarily lost in thought. The old man's loose white hair gently fluttered in the wind, and the wrinkles on his face quivered slightly. He seemed completely oblivious to what was being said, as another face appeared before his eyes. Her almond eyes were round, charmingly stubborn, and a pair of intelligent eyes stared directly at him. A soft voice vaguely echoed in his ears: "Brother... do you want me to marry Chen Donghe?"

"Jingtian..." Yuan Chengdun assumed he was deep in thought, but Li Xuanxuan's eyes were unfocused, his old face drooped, and his breathing was heavy. As if startled from a dream, he looked up, his voice hoarse, "Ah... this matter... we need to ask Xiang'er first."

After saying this, he silently took half a step back, revealing his aged weariness. Yuan Chengdun was momentarily stunned and looked at the young woman beside him. The young woman's grayish-black eyes held a hint of Li Yuanjiao's coloring. Her face was pretty, but her most captivating feature was the pair of phoenix eyes inherited from her mother.

He met those phoenix eyes directly. They were bright and powerful, showing no fear despite his reputation as a famous Foundation Establishment cultivator in Jiangnan; rather, they held mostly calmness. 'What a fine young woman.' Yuan Chengdun's heart stirred. He then heard Li Yuexiang say softly, "May I ask about your son's character, cultivation level, and age, Senior?"

Yuan Chengdun sighed, "He is close to your age, but he lost his mother young and received little guidance from me. He has suffered some grievances within the clan. Although kind-hearted, he is inevitably somewhat mediocre and weak..."

The man spoke candidly, mentioning no virtues but listing his character flaws. This, paradoxically, made Li Yuexiang regard him more highly. She said gently, "It's often said that a tiger father has no dog son, and Yuexiang wouldn't jump to conclusions... Perhaps your son could visit Wangyue Lake? I could show him around the lake and we could talk in detail."

Yuan Chengdun hesitated slightly. Li Yuexiang smoothly continued, "If this matter doesn't come to pass, your esteemed son could still study cultivation arts at our family until your return, when you can take him back."

Yuan Chengdun was taken aback by the young woman's shrewdness. Li Yuexiang's words struck a chord, truly moving him. While he had initially sought to provide his son with a reliance, he now genuinely considered the prospect, thinking, 'A woman like this could ensure my lineage's security... No wonder that fellow Xiao Jiuqing insisted that Xiao Xian marry the direct daughter of the Li family. No wonder even after the sudden deaths of the father and son in the Yushan Xiao clan, they could still maintain their foothold... The Li family's upbringing is truly excellent!'

Yuan Chengdun had dealings with the Yushan branch of the Xiao family. Xiao Xian could have married his sister back then, but Xiao Jiuqing orchestrated for him to marry Li Qingxiao instead. At the time, Yuan Chengdun, being young, felt baffled and resentful. "My Yuan family has been a great noble family for hundreds of years! How could we be inferior to the Li family?"

Now, observing this, Yuan Chengdun finally understood Xiao Jiuqing's sentiment. After a moment of silence, he said softly, "I don't have much time. When my son arrives, we'll arrange the engagement first. I'll leave the betrothal gifts here. If you truly dislike it, your esteemed clan doesn't need to force the matter. Consider these gifts my offering to your clan!"

After speaking, he waved his large hand, and a large pile of jade boxes appeared in the main hall. Magical artifacts clattered onto the floor, most of them crafted by demonic beasts using primitive methods, where the quality of materials far surpassed the craftsmanship.

Li Yuexiang paused, showing no sign of wavering. She said softly, "If this matter does not come to fruition, I will personally ensure your belongings are returned to your son, Senior."

Yuan Chengdun looked deeply at her, his voice resonant, "Very well."

Without another word, he cupped his hands towards the dazed Li Xuanxuan, then departed on the wind. A heavy downpour began to fall again. Yuan Chengdun ventured out into the rain, looking at the gloomy sky before him, his heart complex. "If Yao'er can live up to his potential, with such a family as his backing and such a shrewd wife, he will never have to worry about anything again. My only fear is that my son, that 'dog-child,' might not be able to 'subdue' this 'dragon-maiden,' that his eyes will only see shallow things, and his legs will wander into murky waters, leading to a desolate end when trouble arises." He hadn't spent much time with his child and always felt a sense of indebtedness, which was why he made this special trip. As he flew through the clouds on the wind, he thought to himself, "Children and grandchildren have their own fortunes; I can't worry about everything!"

Yuan Chengdun's journey was certainly not merely "too lazy to contend with them, so I've left it to them," as he claimed. The truth was, the Yuan family's internal struggle had reached a fever pitch, with multiple factions subtly intervening, causing great concern for both him and Yuan Huyuan. His departure to the East Sea was, on one hand, a strategic retreat to preserve himself, and on the other, a desperate attempt to find Yuan Tuan and resolve these crises.

Yuan Chengdun gradually flew away, disappearing into the torrential rain.

On Qingdu Mountain, Li Yuexiang specifically took out a storage bag and meticulously collected the items from the ground, spending a full half-hour identifying and cataloging them. Once she finished these tasks, she looked up to find Li Xuanxuan still staring blankly at her. Li Yuexiang slightly misunderstood his gaze and frowned, asking, "Grandfather... do you want me to marry that Young Master Yuan?"

To her common inquiry, Li Xuanxuan unexpectedly sprang from his seat in the main hall and hurried up from the lower end, exclaiming, "I... Tian'er... it only depends on what you think..."

Li Yuexiang lowered her head slightly and replied, "Grandfather, you've mistaken me for someone else."

Li Xuanxuan, as if waking from a dream, saw the light in his eyes quickly dim. He replied, "Xiang'er, you decide for yourself. The family isn't short of these things now... you don't have to force yourself." He mumbled something, likely about "assessing his character" and "not thinking about the family," then quickly made his embarrassed exit. He hurried down the stone steps in the heavy rain, heading towards the cemetery on the mountainside.

Li Yuexiang, meanwhile, gently hung the storage bag on her jade belt, and slowly walked out from under the eaves, her voice light. "Let's just see what kind of person the son of the renowned 'Vanquisher of Green Mountains' truly is." Her phoenix eyes were sharper than almond eyes. Unlike Li Qinghong's spirited demeanor, Li Yuexiang, raised by Li Xijun from a young age, possessed a subtle shrewdness beneath her calm and gentle exterior. She didn't mind a marriage alliance, but she had her own calculations.

East Sea.

The Vermillion Green Sea was, as always, a mix of green and red, with whales leaping and gulls soaring over rolling waves. A purple light rapidly approached from a distance and came to a halt above the sea surface.

Li Qinghong sped across the sea on the wind, the jade bottle in her hand flashing with purple electricity, its lightning-like patterns flickering on and off, exuding immense power. The radiance around her converged into a single purple light, moving southwards. Over the past two years, Li Qinghong had collected two spirit thunders in the East Sea. Combined with the silver hook spirit thunder from years ago, she now possessed three spirit thunders. This collection journey had allowed her to discover the wondrous use of the magical artifact in her hand. The three thunders converged within it, not infringing upon each other but mutually nourishing, adding several degrees of power to the artifact.

The two spirit thunders were highly appealing, and the journey had naturally not been smooth. The East Sea was also a bloody and dark place. To acquire these two thunders, many individuals had fallen under Li Qinghong's spear. She had now studied the "Cloud Piercing Thunder Inquiry Art." Previously, thunder arts were too scarce, with no comparable cultivation methods. Now, with mutual corroboration, her strength had advanced significantly.

After flying for a while on the wind, Zongquan Island appeared before her. The island was bustling, with palaces and pavilions everywhere.