Chapter 496: Rain Clears and Lasts Long

Green Laurel Mountain.

Li Xijun stepped out of the hall. A middle-aged man in an intricately patterned Daoist robe was already waiting outside. Liu Changdie raised an eyebrow, looked at him, and said softly, "Congratulations, my virtuous nephew, on reaching the Foundation Establishment stage!"

Li Xijun nodded and replied politely, "Greetings, Uncle."

Liu Changdie observed the young man in white. Upon closer inspection, he found him elegant and serene as snow, quite different from his memory. He couldn't help but sigh inwardly, "Indeed, the Path of Frost and Snow suits this Eighth Young Master... Compared to his previous life, he is less cynical and cold, more inwardly reserved like a blade hidden in snow, though perhaps less renowned."

He even felt a subtle sense of joy. Considering this, Li Ximing was the only young master he hadn't met yet, and he wondered what he looked like now, assuming he too had reached the Foundation Establishment stage.

As Liu Changdie lost himself in thought, Li Xijun's gaze drifted over him, thinking, "My family said this person might be fated for something important. Looking at him, it's certainly true!"

Liu Changdie was a rogue cultivator, yet he wore a feathered robe. Among the entire Li family, only Li Xizhi, who had married into the Yang family, could afford such attire. It was immediately clear he was no ordinary person.

Liu Changdie came back to himself and smiled, "Nephew, the grand formation has been set up. It just awaits your noble clan's inspection."

Li Xijun raised a hand, and as he followed Liu Changdie out, he heard him explain with a smile, "This grand formation fully embodies the virtue of water. It's arranged with five types of water, with ten formation platforms spread across Green Laurel Mountain. It can manifest five forms of water to obstruct enemies. I call it the Five Waters Guarding Qian Formation."

"As long as your noble clan activates this grand formation, water waves will draw upon the lake's water veins and Green Laurel's water veins to assist in defense. It has five layers of water manifestation, capable of defending against at least mid-Foundation Establishment cultivators."

Li Xijun and Liu Changdie rose on the wind, hovering in the sky above the mountain peak. Liu Changdie took a small flag from his sleeve, waved it gently, and turned back with a smile, "This grand formation incorporates everything I've learned in my life! I dare say all Foundation Establishment array masters in Jiangnan would have to admit defeat to it. Even if Wan Huaqian crawled out of the ground and cultivated to Foundation Establishment, he might still be a notch below me!"

It was no wonder he boasted like this. The name Wan Huaqian was inescapable for array masters in Yue Kingdom. Several simplified array formations circulating in Yue Kingdom were even attributed to him. Wan Huaqian's reputation was almost on par with Li Chijing's back in the day.

"But where did the Wan family's array inheritance ultimately disappear to?"

As Liu Changdie mentioned it, the thought flashed through Li Xijun's mind like lightning. The destruction of the Wan family had been personally recorded by Li Tongya, and the Ji family's inheritance was now entirely in the Li family's hands, yet they had gained nothing from it.

"Perhaps Ji Dengqi sent it to the Tangjin Sect."

As he was thinking, the entire Green Laurel Mountain suddenly underwent a dramatic spiritual change. Ten cold rays of light rapidly ascended, forming a vast azure light curtain that descended from the sky. Liu Changdie explained, "This first water manifestation is Clear Water, named Morning Mist."

He lightly formed a hand seal, and a grayish water mist immediately rose from the lake, spreading rapidly to block spiritual senses. The mist, like fine threads, swiftly ascended and began to wrap around Li Xijun's robe.

Li Xijun showed a look of surprise. He gently waved his sleeve to disperse it, but the mist coiled around him like a persistent ailment. He activated his ocular technique and instantly saw through the mist, realizing it had no effect on him.

Li Xijun, however, was not surprised. With his ocular technique and talismanic energy mutually empowering each other, it would have been strange if he couldn't see through it. Instead, he heard Liu Changdie say, "As long as this layer of water manifestation is active, any number of Qi Condensation cultivators attacking will be futile!"

He formed another hand seal and cast a spell, whispering, "Hui Stream."

The lake surface around Green Laurel Mountain immediately began to boil, transforming into numerous agile and cunning water serpents. They twisted their bodies on the lake, continuously brandishing weapons in their hands, appearing fierce and malevolent.

Liu Changdie explained, "This is also for facing besieged Qi Condensation cultivators. These water monsters summoned by the formation hide in the mist, making them more effective at attacking enemies and defending the array."

"Pure Essence."

This water manifestation added another layer. A greenish-gray light appeared around Liu Changdie, and his entire being seemed to lighten, clearly an array technique designed to buff allies.

This wasn't particularly remarkable, less impressive than the previous two water manifestations. Liu Changdie understood this and said little, his hand seals changing again: "No Buoyancy."

The spiritual wind beneath Li Xijun's feet suddenly grew heavy, making him somewhat unsteady in the air. He had to raise his spiritual power to resist, but this sensation of weight was peculiar, intensifying relentlessly and rapidly draining his spiritual power.

Liu Changdie revealed a smug expression and laughed, "Thanks to the unique material from this Fushui, which possesses quite a bit of Weak Water's power, I was able to imbue this anti-flight spell to such an extent! Even Foundation Establishment cultivators would have to think twice in the face of such consumption!"

Li Xijun raised an eyebrow in surprise. This spell was quite different from ordinary anti-flight techniques, continuously strengthening over time. He thought, "I heard this Fushui was provided by sister-in-law... she didn't say anything explicitly, but it's clearly quite precious... likely a rare, high-grade material from Fushui. Now I owe a favor..."

Still excited, Liu Changdie's hand seals shifted again, manifesting the final layer of water: "Stratified Flow."

The surrounding lake surface instantly churned with great waves, surging rapidly upwards along the mountain range, swiftly covering the entire azure grand formation, protecting it completely. The lake water was grayish-black, appearing very stable.

Li Xijun watched carefully. It wasn't until Liu Changdie dispelled the spell and all water manifestations swiftly returned to their original state that he sighed, "My family has repeatedly declined, yet Uncle holds no resentment and has even put more effort into crafting this formation! How can we accept this?"

Li Xijun, of course, understood that the materials his family provided were far from enough to create such a grand formation. Liu Changdie must have secretly added a significant amount of his own resources! This level of grandeur was far beyond a typical Foundation Establishment array!

He sighed inwardly, reached into his sleeve, and pulled out another storage pouch, intending to compensate Liu Changdie. However, Liu Changdie vigorously waved his hand and said gravely, "After all these years, Changdie is no longer the fool he once was! So many people are watching me... I know my place! In any case, let's not talk about favors. If it comes down to it, I won't drag your noble clan down."

Li Xijun was momentarily speechless. As Liu Changdie said, after so many years of venturing out, he was no longer the naive young man he once was. He could see that the Li family's repeated attempts to compensate him were precisely to avoid owing a favor, lest any future complications drag them down... Yet, such a mindset was ultimately heartless, leaving Li Xijun at a loss for words.

Liu Changdie, however, was magnanimous. He said gently, "This is my tribute to Yuan Jiao. I understand many things. If your noble clan still trusts my character... then please don't try to give me any more spirit stones."

His eyes were clear, and his tone was open and straightforward, effectively cutting off Li Xijun's words. He gave a slight smile and swiftly changed the subject: "I've met all the young masters, except for Nephew Ximing... I wonder..."

Li Xijun offered a polite smile, though he felt a pang of sadness. He replied, "Ximing is currently in secluded cultivation, attempting a breakthrough. It's rather inconvenient..."

Liu Changdie could only nod, feeling a touch of regret. In his previous life, his daughter had been Li Ximing's concubine, so he had some connection with Li Ximing. Moreover, Li Ximing's son, Li Chenghui, had even studied array formations under him. This thought made him miss his former apprentice, and he asked with a smile, "I've heard that those with 'Bright Yang' constitutions find it easiest to have children. I wonder if that's just a rumor. May I ask about Young Master Ximing's offspring?"

Li Xijun, however, was troubled by this very matter. Li Ximing's eldest son had just undergone bone-root testing and was found to have no spiritual apertures, which greatly darkened his mood. He simply waved his hand, "I believe it's a rumor. Brother Ming has few descendants and lacks spiritual talent."

This stunned Liu Changdie, his heart sinking. He feared he had inadvertently messed something up again, thinking, "How can this be... how... Meng Zhuoyun is from the overseas Meng clan, and the Li family are also descendants of Foundation Establishment cultivators... how could this happen..."

The image of his obedient apprentice flashed in his mind, and he couldn't restrain himself. His heart suddenly skipped a beat, and he asked, "May this old man ask one more thing? Young Master Ming's wife is..."

"From the An family."

"The An family!"

Liu Changdie slowly closed his eyes. Li Xijun found his questions always peculiar, but the previous exchange had been so sincere that Li Xijun had answered without thinking.

Liu Changdie's heart was filled with bitterness. He thought despairingly, "Perhaps Meng Zhuoyun died on the way here... It's over... It's all over."

He suddenly felt as if he had fallen into a dream, his limbs burning. His previously peaceful mood was instantly shattered, and he stood in the air, utterly crestfallen, with downcast eyes, unable to hear even those who called out to him beside him.

His body was still mechanically bowing, but his heart was utterly broken. When he came to his senses, he had already landed in the town. He took only two steps, then looked up, squinting, to see the plaque above: Hu Manor.

He had unconsciously returned to the manor from his previous life, but the plaque didn't say Liu Manor. He could only turn back and retreat, dazed as if his soul had been taken, his spiritual sense shakily sweeping through the manor.

Liu Changdie vaguely heard a soft singing voice. With a mere flicker, he instantly appeared within the Hu Manor. A woman was singing and dancing in the courtyard, her expression terrified. Clearly, she possessed cultivation and had been startled by his spiritual sense.

Her features were delicate, possessing a sorrowful grace. Her body was weak, showing a demeanor entirely different from her previous life. Her cultivation was far inferior to the five levels of Fetal Breath from her past, having barely reached the Profound View stage.

But Liu Changdie's Foundation Establishment cultivation was real and formidable. Instantly, many prostrated themselves, and Madam Hu Liu bowed with her head pressed tightly to the ground, saying respectfully, "May I ask, Senior..."

Liu Changdie felt a tightness in his chest and shortness of breath. He let out a choked sound. His wife was kneeling before him just like that. Councilor Hu then belatedly rushed out, prostrating himself on the ground.

"Qing'er..."

Liu Changdie uttered the name, speechless.

He understood perfectly why he hadn't come to find her.

In his moment of rebirth, he was ecstatic, with too many regrets and sorrows to fix before him. Yet, not a single thought of his wife or daughter had crossed his mind. He now understood: from the moment he was reborn, he had, deep down, looked down upon Madam Liu.

Even after decades of marital affection, he had been ecstatic... He truly wouldn't be the lucky opportunist, the miscellaneous Qi cultivator, the incompetent Liu Changdie of his previous life!

He would be a Foundation Establishment cultivator! He might even be a Zifu cultivator! He would marry a fairy from an immortal sect! He would embrace a darling from an aristocratic family!

In his deepest heart, he basely thought that everything from his previous life could be disregarded. Any woman he would meet in this life, in temperament or appearance, would surpass Madam Liu. Husbands and wives owed each other nothing, so why would he marry a village girl?

And so, he had forgotten her for decades, not recalling her even once. When occasionally reminded, he would dismiss it with a wry smile.

But seeing Madam Liu's mix of shock and terror, her face turning pale, Liu Changdie felt as if his head had been hammered. Memories of their wedding night's shyness, and joyous moments with his wife and daughter, flooded his mind. His throat felt clogged with phlegm, and he let out an unpleasant cough.

Liu Changdie had always thought Madam Liu was slightly plump, and for a long time, he hadn't particularly liked her for it, until her gentle patience and adoration captivated him.

Only now did he realize she also had a gaunt, delicate beauty. In his previous life, her eyes shone because she loved him.

Councilor Hu's expression suddenly changed. He murmured, "Qing... Qing'er...!?"

A flicker of shame crossed his face, but it quickly vanished. Madam Liu was just a concubine; if she could win the favor of a Foundation Establishment cultivator, his family's prosperity would be boundless!

Councilor Hu fawned, "Esteemed one... Esteemed one... This is Yuqing... she is most skilled at singing melodious tunes..."

'She just had a miscarriage a few days ago, so she's a bit weak...'

He didn't utter these words, but Liu Changdie's Foundation Establishment spiritual sense had already seen everything clearly. He even knew which cold medicine had harmed her, and watched as Councilor Hu went to push Madam Liu.

Madam Liu was both bewildered and terrified, trembling as she fell before him. Liu Changdie, already a shrewd old hand, watched with aching eyes and cried out, "I deserve this!"

Weeping and laughing, he rose on the wind, a metallic taste in his mouth, and cursed, "I deserve this!"

Liu Changdie ascended on the wind as if fleeing. He had survived many near-death experiences in the East Sea over the years, yet he had never flown so fast. Madam Liu's gaze and plight felt like an immortal sword; even a slight pause would condemn him to eternal damnation.

"How many years have I been reborn...? I've only cared about enriching myself, filled with greed to seize others' opportunities, ruining how many heroes' destinies? Not to mention stopping the demonic rain, did I save even one person?"

"I should have known my place; I am merely a vulgar and cowardly mortal. But how many spiritual treasures have I wasted in this reborn life! I've ruined the opportunities of even more heroes, how many young prodigies were lost during the demonic calamity? And how many common people have suffered because of me!"

Only today did Liu Changdie truly realize. His rebirth, from beginning to end, had been a clumsy little play—a mediocre person seizing good fortune in vain, leaving more talented individuals to regretfully depart. He was no hero; he was even short-sighted, and would remain this way even if he lived several more lifetimes!

After harming others, he had also harmed his wife and daughter, his brothers, and his elders. Just look at the tragic fate of his wife from his previous life, without his intervention, amidst the decline of the Liu family.

"Married as a concubine... forced into miscarriage... such a lovely person in my previous life... now withered like a corpse."

There were many cultivators in the Li family, but it was extremely rare for a cultivator to be married as a concubine. Clearly, the Liu family had lost in a struggle, and she, being merely a minor branch member, had fallen into such a plight!

Although he was not in the Li family, he understood their situation well. His heart was a medley of emotions. Her smiling, slightly plump face flashed in his mind, only to be violently shattered by her current terrified expression. He choked out, "I merely gained cultivation in vain!"

"Qing'er... Yuan Jiao... Chenghui... A'nan..."

As night deepened, that shred of conscience made his legs give way, despite being a formidable Foundation Establishment cultivator. Like a bird with broken wings, he plummeted and fell into the lake.