Chapter 529: Extra Wealth

Li Qinghong's pupils dilated slightly, and the purple hue in her bright eyes faded considerably. The iris she held had already been put away. She exhaled softly, clasped her slender hands, and spoke in a low voice:"Qinghong greets Senior."

Li Qinghong vividly remembered the events of that day. Chi Buzi's soul seemed to have a problem, and she wasn't sure if he still recalled what had happened. So, she simply addressed him as "Senior," keeping her options open. If Chi Buzi had lost his memory, it would mean they had never met. If he was that "Water Mansion Immortal Official," her greeting would still be appropriate.

Chi Buzi, facing her, with his hair unbound, sat on a stone stool nearby without speaking, his light blue pupils fixed on her. He had achieved the Purple Mansion realm many years ago, and his path, the Lüshui Dao, involved the ebb and flow of purity and turbidity. His appearance was naturally refined, his demeanor clear and ethereal, yet his eyes held a strange, sinister quality. His lips parted slightly, and he murmured:"Li Qinghong, you recognize me."

Although he was smiling, his words were chilling, like the widespread ice and snow of the deepest winter, settling upon Li Qinghong. Li Qinghong lowered her gaze, parted her lips, and replied:"Senior must be joking... Qinghong has cultivated for decades and has never seen a Purple Mansion cultivator. How could I have such fortune to witness a true master's arrival..."

Although Chi Buzi was seated in a secondary position and had not used any spiritual powers, his aura was overwhelmingly powerful, pressing down on Li Qinghong, who stood waiting nearby, making her chest feel heavy.

*Thump, thump, thump...*

The clear spring within the cave dwelling began to sound louder, and its sparkling water slowly turned a murky gray. Chi Buzi raised an eyebrow and smiled:"Li Qinghong, I see it clearly. You are afraid of me, or rather, your guilt has made you afraid. Perhaps you have means to resist spiritual powers, but I can see it clearly."

Chi Buzi watched her silently:"That time, I most likely used soul-searching techniques and connected with that person's true nature, which is why I ended up like that. This time, I won't be careless."

The golden belt at his waist glowed with spiritual light. Chi Buzi rose, took two steps on the platform, and murmured:"I suspected it was your family, which is why I didn't dare return to Wangyue Lake. After much investigation, I found Zongquan Island overseas, so I waited here."

Chi Buzi clasped his hands behind his back, his back to the cave's light source. Two faint lines were visible on his pale hands. He spoke softly:"Lüshui has now gone beyond the heavens and has no energy to pay attention here. So, I have come, Li Qinghong."

He slowly turned around, and frightful turbidity emanated from his light blue pupils, gathering into a cloud of dust that curled upwards from the corners of his eyes:"Which 'Exalted One' are you? Yingze? Shexian? Or the one from Fushui?"

Li Qinghong did not answer him, only feeling the suffocating sensation in the dwelling grow more intense. She meticulously pondered Chi Buzi's words, word by word, and immediately drew a conclusion:"'I suspected it was your family,' 'You are afraid of me' — Chi Buzi's memory definitely has gaps. Otherwise, he wouldn't need to guess; if he remembered that day's events, why would he be speculating?""He has most likely forgotten what happened at the lake. Whether he truly forgot or not, at the very least, he dares not remember!"

Chi Buzi seemed indifferent, yet his light blue pupils appeared to be observing her expression. He said:"Li Qinghong, that person left a mark in my soul; you should know that."

He smiled faintly, revealing sharp white teeth, and beckoned with a finger, whispering:"I didn't dare think about it at all. I took that foolish immortal official on a tour of the East Sea, pointing out everything to him one by one, utterly dismantling his entire system. His resolve wavered, and he lost his reliance."

"With his resolve shaken, he made wrong decisions. It wasn't until I consumed that foolish immortal official and devoured all his cultivation that I dared to think: 'The Exalted One underestimated me. Chi Wei did too, Yuan Xiu did too, and Lüshui did too.'"

His tone was steady:"Buzi is not some fool who can be easily suppressed. The methods that keep Purple Mansion cultivators compliant cannot control me."

"The immortal official has been consumed by me; it was truly a great tonic. It allowed me to cultivate my fourth divine ability, called 'Chou Gui Zang,' which stores all techniques within one's body, enabling many things."

He walked all the way to the main seat, then slowly sat down, facing the cave dwelling's radiance, and spoke softly:"The Exalted One dares not kill me, which indicates that you are not yet at the Golden Core realm. If you wish to reclaim your divine position, Lüshui must be eliminated."

Chi Buzi smiled faintly and said softly:"However Lüshui's divine position is handled, Buzi does not crave it. I only seek a Golden Core, whether it be a 'remaining' or 'intercalary' position, just a Golden Core.""The Exalted One will need it..."

His expression was sincere, and he spoke warmly:"If the Exalted One wishes to reascend to a divine or even immortal position in this world, you will need a capable assistant. Trust me, in such a corrupted world, whether one walks the righteous path or the wicked one, people like Buzi are the true sharp swords. Immortal officials will only cause more trouble."

Chi Buzi didn't wait for Li Qinghong to reply. He said softly:"Whether Lüshui returns severely wounded, or Shangyuan is defeated and retreats to his divine position, I, a mere Purple Mansion cultivator, cannot see clearly. But the Exalted One surely has a plan. If you have any instructions, you can move me through destiny, and Buzi will be able to perceive it."

He sounded as if he were making a promise, yet also conducting a test, whispering:"However, if this humble one dies, Lüshui will certainly notice, which might disrupt the Exalted One's plans."

Li Qinghong understood that he wasn't speaking to her, so she remained silently standing. Chi Buzi rose from the main seat, descended the steps, and walked directly in front of Li Qinghong, smiling:"Buzi takes his leave."

His figure, like a murky wind, vanished instantly, escaping into the great void through a crack in the stone.

Li Qinghong remained standing in the courtyard, unsure if the 'Exalted One' Chi Buzi spoke of was truly watching. She stood silently for two breaths, then sat cross-legged, quietly processing Chi Buzi's words.

***

Qunyi Strait.

Chi Buzi traversed the great void, venturing deep into the sea for tens of thousands of miles before stopping on a deserted island. His hands, hidden in his sleeves, still trembled uncontrollably. His breathing was rapid, his previous composed demeanor long since cast aside, and he still felt his vision darken."Damn it... that was a True Lord, perhaps even an Immortal..."

Chi Buzi gasped, calming himself. He hadn't exploded into a puddle of green water, indicating that his words had, at least to some extent, gained the approval of this True Lord."Bargaining with a tiger... it's a desperate measure, but it's the only way..."

Chi Buzi's expression gradually darkened:"Lüshui couldn't possibly not know that this path now requires 'purity and turbidity' for successful enlightenment, yet he tricked Chi Rui and Chi Wei into circles! Spreading some 'Five Elements Golden Attainment Method'! It's clear he didn't want them to succeed in their breakthrough!""That's right, Mu Hai said it many times: he has exhausted all his strength to suppress the dragon nature on his divine position. How could he tolerate others achieving 'remaining' or 'intercalary' positions? He's probably desperate with fear of being usurped!"

Chi Buzi's gaze was hidden in deep shadow, like a venomous snake. He mused inwardly:"If I want to break through to the Golden Core, staying under Lüshui's sect will inevitably lead to death sooner or later! I'll just be filled into his Lügui Pool... If I don't break through to the Golden Core in this life, what's the point? I might as well die!"

He had nothing to lose, completely unafraid of being killed by the True Lord behind the Li family or being discovered by Lüshui. If he couldn't break through to the Golden Core, death was inevitable anyway."If I die, I die; I'll just try!"

Chi Buzi's thoughts spun. He mused to himself:"It's just that the 'Exalted One' is most likely also of water virtue, skillful in dealing with both sides. Once I've gathered all the information, if that 'Exalted One' runs into trouble and Lüshui is supporting me, there might still be a chance to reach the Golden Core after things are done..."

***

Qingdu Mountain.

Li Xijun returned from the lake, riding the wind, and landed back on the mountain. He had witnessed the anomalies in both the north and east. Not just his Li family, but the entire Jiangnan region was filled with panic, everyone feeling insecure. Li Ximing had already entered seclusion for cultivation, but Li Xijun had to pay attention to these developments. His family's personnel in Milin Commandery were gradually increasing, with several families brought in, preparing to establish a few peak residences. After all, Milin Commandery was quite vast, even wider than the Li family's original territory, so distributing a few peaks was more than sufficient.

As he entered the hall, he saw a young man standing there, dignified and noble, clad in white, with an exceptional demeanor. Li Xijun's eyes lit up, and he smiled:"Zhi Ge'er!"

The person who arrived was, naturally, Li Xizhi. He had stayed in Guanshan for a night but ultimately could not rest easy. Riding the wind all the way, he left Yang Xiao'er safely in Guanshan and returned alone. He nodded to his younger brother and said softly:"Shangyuan True Lord has successfully broken through in the North Sea; you should have heard about it."

Seeing Li Xijun nod, he briefly recounted the situation in the four seas. Just then, Li Chengliao arrived, riding the wind. His eyes lit up upon seeing Li Xizhi. He bowed and cupped his hands, saying:"Several branches of the clan in Milin have been settled. We are currently surveying the ley lines to divide a few mountains and prepare to establish new manor peaks."

Li Xijun quietly acknowledged this. Outside, a light rain began to patter. Li Chengliao seemed somewhat agitated, subtly glancing at the falling rain. Li Xijun also felt a chill in his heart. Anomalies had been frequent recently, and he wondered if they would affect Li Xicheng, who was in seclusion attempting a breakthrough. Just as Li Xijun paused for a moment, he saw someone approaching from below. This woman, bright and dignified, was Li Minggong, the eldest sister of the Chengming generation. Her cultivation wasn't high, only at the early Qi Condensation stage, but her face showed sorrow. She cupped her hands and said:"Reporting, Eighth Uncle... Grand-uncle's fate jade... it's broken."

Li Xijun froze in place, then realized the origin of the rain. Li Chengliao, upon hearing the grim news about his father, grew red-eyed and stood motionless. Li Xicheng was Li Xijun's elder brother. Their father had died young, and Li Xijun had a deep affection for him. Although he had a premonition, he still froze for a moment. Li Xizhi, unaware of his elder brother's breakthrough attempt in seclusion, also showed signs of grief, whispering:"What happened?!"

Several people swiftly rose on the wind, descending like lightning into Qingdu Mountain's underground water mansion. There, they found the cave dwelling faintly damp. Flying to the stone door of the seclusion chamber, they saw water droplets all over the stone wall. Seeing this, Li Xizhi immediately understood and waited with downcast eyes. Li Xijun hesitated for a moment, but ultimately let Li Chengliao open the door, while instructing Li Minggong:"My elder brother had many descendants; go and invite them over."

Li Minggong nodded, a precious sword hanging at her waist, her demeanor graceful. She replied:"Someone has already been sent to invite them; they will arrive immediately. Several elders from the Clan Justice Hall are also on their way."Back then, when Li Ximing abandoned his responsibilities, Li Xicheng was given the instruction to take over the position of young master. He later became the family head, and then the position passed to Li Chengliao. His passing was a significant event, necessitating the presence of the clan elders.

Both by custom and etiquette, Li Chengliao was to enter to handle the spiritual remains, while Li Xijun naturally had to manage the affairs here. He quickly stabilized his emotions, watching several young men and women enter the water mansion, all of them constrained. They were Li Chengliao's younger siblings, either with low talent or mortal bodies. The Li family's system in this regard was quite harsh; these children had never even been to Qingdu and were constantly monitored due to their status, remaining silent.

Li Xijun carefully asked for their names, noting that their attire was even somewhat shabby. Before he could ask further, all the clan elders, led by Li Xuanxuan, had arrived. Most were white-haired old men; Li Xuanxuan's beard trembled, showing great regret. The few from the Clan Justice Hall stood to the side, accompanying the current Clan Justice, Li Zhouwei. The heir stood with downcast eyes, subtly clutching the jade slip in his hand, his fingertips slightly white.

After observing everyone's actions clearly, Li Xijun then spoke softly:"According to old custom, the contents of Elder Brother's storage bag and cave dwelling shall be handed over to Chengliao. The remaining spiritual assets and treasures shall be distributed among his children. We are all here as witnesses. You may begin the announcement."

After he spoke, he waited for Li Zhouwei to make the distribution. To his surprise, the young man slightly cupped his hands and replied:"Grand-uncle's residence: one; meditation cushions: two; incense burner: one. These convert to three spirit stones, which is not enough for distribution, so they are converted into three hundred catties of spiritual rice, fifty catties per person."

At these words, Li Xuanxuan was initially stunned. The assembled elders exchanged glances, their expressions varied. Li Xizhi and Li Xuanxuan simply made eye contact, both understanding the other's thoughts:"Chengliao and Zhouwei are not greedy for such material possessions... How could their actions appear so unseemly..."

After a moment of silence, one person stood out: Li Xicheng's second son, who was now married and had grown a beard. He spoke respectfully:"Reporting to the elders, Grand-uncle's mortal body left nothing behind. My father, having suffered hardship since childhood, disliked extravagance. All that he acquired during his life was gifted to impoverished cultivators within and outside the clan. He usually resided in Qingdu for cultivation, and his residence contained no spiritual artifacts."

His words silenced everyone. Li Xijun nodded gently. Li Zhouwei, standing nearby, added:"Reporting to the elders, Grand-uncle managed the family for seventeen years, leaving no surplus wealth."

Li Xizhi listened in silence, suddenly remembering the Embryonic Breath Jade Pendant his elder brother, Li Xicheng, had bought for him with his savings the year he left home at twelve to join the sect. This jade pendant was even inferior to the standard pendants of Qingchi Sect disciples, yet he had worn it for years, on his wrist, without even noticing its presence. Now, the touch of the jade pendant against his skin became distinct, feeling extraordinarily cold. Hearing the words "no surplus wealth in the family," Li Xizhi felt a pang in his heart.

Li Xijun, having spent years with his elder brother, felt it even more deeply. His heart dimmed:'Elder Brother always felt as if he had unjustly taken Ximing's things. He walked on thin ice, never treating his sons like young masters... He was even harsh on himself.'

As he was lost in thought, several elders whispered among themselves. Li Xizhi turned his head and said gently to Li Xijun:"Elder Brother was never one for words; he just quietly got things done. When Ximing comes out of seclusion, you must tell him... the burden he abandoned at eighteen, Elder Brother took care of it all for him."