Chapter 490: Halberd

Li Zhouwei responded, and Madam Hu could only nod. She watched him return to his desk and ground the ink for him. The child, silent, wrote each stroke with meticulous care.

She watched the child write each character with neat, straight strokes, perfectly aligned, and found herself at a loss for words.

Madam Hu stayed until late into the night. To her surprise, Li Zhouwei hadn't stirred from his seat, showing none of the mischievous energy typical of a child. His expression remained serene as he practiced his calligraphy in silence.

Madam Hu gazed into his eyes, watching their color slowly shift, becoming more dazzling as the light outside changed. When the old ape came in and lit the lamps, their dim, yellow glow seemed to deepen her trance-like absorption.

She remained seated until darkness completely enveloped the room. The old ape approached, his voice hoarse, and said, "Madam, please return. The young master is about to rest."

The white ape’s throat had been damaged long ago, rendering him unable to speak normally. Now, he communicated by vibrating the air with spiritual power, making his voice sound devoid of emotion. Madam Hu started as if from a dream and quickly rose. Li Zhouwei quietly got up with her and escorted her all the way to the courtyard entrance, where he softly said, "I bid Mother farewell."

The maids waiting by the door had been there for a long time. Upon seeing Madam Hu emerge, they rushed to greet her. Madam Hu walked for a short distance, still looking preoccupied, and couldn't help but glance back.

The night was a profound darkness, and in the distance, she could still discern two golden eyes, like those of a creature lurking in the depths of a dark pool, floating in mid-air. They resembled the eyes of a tiger or leopard poised in the night, silently fixed on her retreating figure.

Madam Hu panicked and quickly turned around. Her attendants on either side looked at her. She took several deep breaths, steadying her hands and feet, yet she still felt disoriented. "Is this truly my son?" she murmured, "Is he born divine, or..."

She swallowed the rest of her thoughts, a chilling realization forming in her mind: "Or is he born a demon?"

As Madam Hu departed, Li Zhouwei remained standing in front of the courtyard. Once the group was out of sight, he turned back, his voice tinged with a childish innocence, and said, "Mother is afraid of me."

The old ape squatted beside him, matching his every move. In a hoarse voice, he said, "Everyone in the courtyard fears the Young Master. Those who do not fear him now will eventually, and those who do fear him now will fear him even more later."

Li Zhouwei remained silent. The old ape removed his shoes and escorted him into the sleeping chamber. "This old servant has journeyed through Wu and Yue for over a century, encountering countless individuals," he said in a weathered voice. "I have never met anyone quite like the Young Master. Upon careful consideration, perhaps only the young master of the Tujun Gate, from long ago, could be likened to him in some small way."

Li Zhouwei tilted his head. "Did that young master inspire fear?" he asked.

The old ape stroked his white fur and shook his head. "Not at all. Young Master, you are both similar to him and entirely different. It's like comparing a ruthless overlord to a benevolent hero; they cannot be truly matched."

Li Zhouwei nodded as if in partial understanding, then slowly closed his eyes. The two points of dark golden light finally vanished into the darkness.

Li Chengliao had been exceptionally busy for the past year. The weather in Northern Yue had become eerily unpredictable, shifting between sun and rain, with rainfall scattered unevenly across the land.

The only constant was the infertile land. Apart from a few noble families, most others intended to migrate, causing the population to disperse southwards.

The general trend was clear: astute observers recognized that the dissipation of the Xuanping aura was irreversible. They watched dispassionately as the Xiuyue Sect and Qingchi Sect vied for power in Northern Yue, keen to see how the situation would unfold.

Seated in the main hall, Li Chengliao received a flurry of reports daily. He perused them carefully for a while and indeed found some interesting details.

"The Xiao family has sealed off their mountain for three years. All direct descendants have retreated into the mountain, remaining secluded... It appears they are trying to avoid the conflict between the two sects."

After careful deliberation, he found the move excessively drastic. He mused, 'They say Xiao Chuting is an old fox who attained the Purple Mansion through his schemes. This action can't be that simple; there must be hidden implications I haven't discerned.'

He put away the letters Li Xizhi had sent, reading them thoroughly before letting out a sigh of relief. "At least the Xiuyue Sect hasn't completely severed ties or moved to attack Qingchi to the south... but if a full-scale conflict truly erupts, the Xuanping aura will collapse even more catastrophically."

The Xiuyue Sect's setback couldn't entirely be blamed on them; the Xuanping aura was inherently one of the most demanding and fragile types of spiritual energy. Maintaining it for so long without interference had already depleted the Xiuyue Sect's prestige and momentum.

Now, with the Qingchi Sect taking the lead, few other sects wanted the Xiuyue Sect to gain another Golden Core cultivator. They were actively sabotaging them both openly and covertly, so it was remarkable that the sect had managed to maintain its position for so long.

'Regardless... these matters are too vast for me to control. My only focus is to aid the common people.'

Li Chengliao put away the letters and redirected his thoughts. Chen Mufeng, who stood beside him, reminded him, "My lord should be heading to... the Young Master's residence today."

Chen Mufeng had once made a mistake, resulting in his demotion to a common palace guard. Li Chengliao understood that Xu Xiao had influenced him at the time, and now, many years later, he had, intentionally or not, allowed him to rise again, becoming the second-in-command of the Jade Guard, surpassed only by Chen Donghe.

"I was so busy I completely forgot!" Li Chengliao exclaimed, enlightened by the reminder. As he prepared to rise, a subordinate reported that the Young Master had already arrived.

It turned out that after waiting for Li Chengliao for a while, and with evening approaching, Li Zhouwei decided to come himself. Still clad in his white-gold robe, he ascended the steps and entered.

He was already five years old and growing quickly. His long hair was tied back, and his small eyebrows were furrowed, giving him a very serious expression. He cupped his hands and softly said, "Father."

Li Chengliao chuckled heartily. "I've been meaning to select a weapon for you, but I got so busy I completely forgot! Come, come!"

He took Li Zhouwei's hand, dismissed the others, and quickly went to the back hall where several jade boxes were already arranged. Li Chengliao had him stand still, then opened the first box and softly explained, "First, the sword. Among all weapons, it is the most esteemed. It can be light or heavy, long or short, and is the most common instrument in the world. Even those who do not cultivate the Way of the Sword often wear it for ceremonies, to seal vows, or even for ritual suicide..."

"Our family excels with this weapon. It's said that we possess a fifth-grade sword manual, renowned among all sects. Furthermore, our clan has many spiritual swords, with both Qingchi and Hanlin being Foundation Establishment grade."

After speaking, Li Chengliao drew the sword from his waist. Its blade was smooth and gleaming, adorned with intricate, scale-like patterns that shimmered with a cold, deep blue light. He explained, "This is the family head's ceremonial sword, called 'Jiaopan Ying.' It measures three feet and seven inches and symbolizes the stewardship of our family. One day, when you assume leadership of the Li family, you will also wear this sword."

Li Zhouwei blinked slightly, his gaze fixed intently on the azure blade. "Yes," he softly replied.

Li Chengliao reluctantly put the sword away. He then opened the two adjacent boxes, revealing a long bow and a long spear. His explanations for these were much briefer, simply outlining their advantages and disadvantages. "The family's spiritual spear, Du Ruo, is with Patriarch Qinghong," he said softly, "and our only spiritual bow is still in the Southern Frontier. It seems there won't be any Foundation Establishment artifacts available for some time."

Li Chengliao's words carried significant weight, demonstrating his high regard for his eldest son; he was already preparing Foundation Establishment artifacts for him even before he began cultivation. Li Zhouwei showed no surprise, simply asking, "Are there any other items?"

Only then did Li Chengliao tap his storage bag and retrieve another weapon.

It was a deep golden halberd, with a long, crescent-shaped blade. It towered two heads taller than Li Chengliao, its design exaggerated and incredibly heavy, making it a struggle even for Li Chengliao, a Qi Condensation cultivator, to lift.

Before Li Chengliao could speak, Li Zhouwei's eyes had already lit up. Li Chengliao smiled, propped the Foundation Establishment artifact on the ground, and said, "This is an ancient Foundation Establishment artifact, likely used by one of our ancestors. It's perfectly suited for the Mingyang cultivation method. What do you think?"

He dared not release his grip, gently laying the weapon flat on the ground for Li Zhouwei to examine closely. The child traced the golden patterns on its surface and exclaimed with delight, "Father, this is the perfect weapon!"

Li Chengliao nodded with satisfaction and explained, "The Patriarch acquired this from a grotto-heaven. No one in the family has ever been able to wield it properly. Although Uncle Ximing cultivates the Mingyang Foundation Establishment, it doesn't recognize him, and he always finds something lacking when he tries to use it."

"He, being an elder, dislikes combat and found it clumsy to hold, so it has remained in the treasury, reserved specifically for you."

Li Zhouwei couldn't take his eyes off it, gazing at it longingly. Li Chengliao waited a moment, then put the artifact away. "You're still quite young," he said with a smile. "Start practicing with a wooden halberd for now, and I will send an instructor to you."

The Li family was now vast and powerful, with a considerable number of halberd users. Chen Mufeng in the hall wielded a long halberd, while Xu Gongming of the Jade Guard used a short one. Li Chengliao simply considered calling them all to instruct the child.

"Only these eyes... for now, they can still be concealed..."

Li Zhouwei had always lived on the mountain, and few outsiders had seen him; only his close kin. Li Chengliao understood that this characteristic would be difficult to conceal permanently and could only postpone its revelation day by day. 'It's a pity that so many methods have failed to obscure them... after all, they are naturally golden pupils!'

The Li family had, of course, considered using illusions or other methods to conceal his eyes, but all these techniques proved ineffective; they always appeared dark gold. Fearing harm to his eyes, they had no choice but to leave them untouched.

Following his command, someone quickly brought a wooden halberd. It had been custom-made, stood a head taller than Li Zhouwei, and was crafted from unusual wood, giving it a respectable weight in hand.

Li Chengliao handed it to him, offering a slight smile and a pat on his head. "Practice diligently," he instructed.

He had always perceived the child as remarkably mature for his age and had never before made such an intimate gesture. He instinctively withdrew his hand, then belatedly froze in surprised realization.

He then saw Li Zhouwei's golden eyes shift, and his small lips, in a rare display, curved upwards into a slight smile before quickly settling back. "Your son accepts your command," he simply said.

***

Jindou Island, East Sea. Situ Mo stood quietly at the island's edge, clad in golden armor, his expression far from pleased.

Since Motuo's demise, he had not left the island for several years, silently holding fort. Even upon hearing news of Li Xuanfeng in the Southern Frontier, he remained put, quietly vigilant.

Although the island's guest cultivators had rotated, and even direct descendants of the Situ family had arrived, none had ever come to harm. Yet, he himself had never left the array.

He had, after all, witnessed Li Xuanfeng's formidable power and always suspected that he would be caught off guard. Situ Mo, however, was unaware that Li Xuanfeng had entered the grotto-heaven, thus squandering an opportunity to return to his sect. Now, knowing Li Xuanfeng had left the Southern Frontier, he constantly felt that the golden bow was laid in ambush near the array.

"It doesn't matter, though. The spiritual energy on this island is quite dense. Cultivating here means I don't have to be constrained by those fools in the sect. It's quite comfortable to cultivate at my own pace."

Burdened by a deep-seated vendetta and possessing a naturally cautious and meticulous nature, Situ Mo dared not venture out. Fortunately, Kong Tingyun of the Xuanyue Sect had been transferred away early to undergo secluded cultivation and breakthrough within her sect. The Xuanxue sect members who replaced her were significantly less formidable, which considerably eased Situ Mo's mind.

However, these were not the issues troubling Situ Mo. He had stood there for only a brief moment when a loud laugh rang out, and a golden-red figure landed beside him, its voice booming, "Sixteenth Brother! You've actually emerged from seclusion! What fortunate timing!"

Though his heart seethed with extreme impatience and loathing for the speaker, a smile instantly bloomed on Situ Mo's face. In a light voice, he said, "So it's Seventh Brother! I've been in secluded cultivation these past days and wasn't even aware of your arrival on the island! I am truly ashamed!"

The person beside him had a handsome face and a high-bridged nose, with a flowing black and red robe. He bore some resemblance to Situ Mo. Flames rose from his body, interwoven with wisps of black and red energy.

His unique flames, which manifested as various bird shapes on his boots, were indeed rare. This was Situ Chen, the very individual Li Xuanfeng had encountered within the grotto-heaven!

After leaving the grotto-heaven, this person had conveniently made his way here to cultivate and recover from his injuries. He practiced using the Dark Flame Qi, and his movements were remarkably fluid, as he lightly came to a stop beside Situ Mo. Situ Mo nodded slightly and smiled. "How was your expedition in the grotto-heaven, Seventh Brother?" he inquired.

Situ Chen's expression immediately soured. "Unfortunately," he said grimly, "I was hampered by Miao Ye and others, so I didn't acquire anything significant."

Situ Mo joined him in cursing for a few moments, and only then did Situ Chen's expression brighten. "You, however, have diligently guarded this place for my main lineage!" he said with a smile. "You've worked tirelessly all these years."

Situ Mo repeatedly demurred, his smile humble on the surface, but his heart was cold. He thought to himself, 'It's a pity you didn't die in the grotto-heaven. Your main lineage killed my mother, and you still expect me to be your loyal dog... what a fantasy.'

The more he thought, the more eager his smile became. "Since Seventh Brother has arrived," he began, "there's no need to rush off. This is the Zhulu Sea, where the scenery is vastly different from within the sect. Gaohao Island to the north and Qunyi Strait to the south each boast unique landscapes and spiritual resources; you absolutely must not miss them!"

Situ Chen had no specific destination in mind and was planning to return to the sect for cultivation. Hearing this, he immediately became intrigued. Situ Mo struck while the iron was hot, praising the abundance of spiritual resources in the surrounding area for a while. He then added, "I will offer Seventh Brother the finest grotto-mansion! The spiritual energy here is nearly as dense as within the sect, and you can also seek out opportunities. Why not take advantage of it?"

Situ Chen, who usually disdained common cultivation spots, had been waiting for just such an offer. He burst into hearty laughter, clearly tempted. "Then I shall impose upon you, Sixteenth Brother!" he declared. "Not at all!" Situ Mo quickly replied.

Situ Mo outwardly chuckled, while inwardly, he was roaring with delight. He then spoke with feigned earnestness, "It's just that your younger brother is quite lazy and is preparing for another period of secluded cultivation. So, the task of patrolling the surrounding sea areas... I'll have to ask Seventh Brother to kindly keep an eye on things."

"Leave it to me!" Situ Chen readily agreed, making a grand gesture, completely unaware of Situ Mo's profound machinations. Situ Mo quickly stepped back, watched the man contentedly exit the formation, then slowly turned and re-entered the grotto-mansion.

His lips curled into a wide, triumphant smile. He murmured, "It would be ideal if he could scout out Li Xuanfeng's whereabouts for me, then get shot dead by him, or even if they both suffer heavy losses. That way, I can calmly return to the sect!"