Chapter 563: Got a Son

Li Qinghong put away the feather robe and thanked Chu Minglian. Although the old man had been sent by the Ning family and his compensation was handled by them, Li Qinghong still took a storage bag from her sleeve and slipped it into his hand.

Chu Minglian naturally refused, but Li Qinghong softly insisted: "Senior Chu's artifact refining skills are superb. Our family may have more requests in the future, and since our two families have long-standing ties, please accept it."

Chu Minglian hesitated for a moment before finally putting it into his robe. He gathered his sleeves and withdrew. Li Qinghong escorted him out of the hall, just as a golden light streamed across the northern sky, flashing twice before gradually fading.

She calculated the direction, confirming it was where the ruins had descended. "It seems these ruins have been completely divided," she mused. "The leftovers, too much trouble to take, are now for the ordinary disciples of various sects to collect."

It wasn't just Li Qinghong; the cultivators around them were accustomed to this. For years, any newly discovered ruins or grotto-heavens were invariably divided among the major sects, leaving nothing for ordinary cultivators.

She peered closer, seeing a golden light rise from that spot, trailing a tail flame as it approached on the wind. It grew steadily larger, moving from a distance to directly in front of her, finally revealing a woman in a flowing Xiang-style robe, her magic garment shimmering, and a golden orb in her hand.

The woman stopped before the formation and smiled, "Is that Qinghong within the formation? Kong Tingyun of Xuanyue has come to visit!" "Sister Tingyun."

Li Qinghong paused briefly, then immediately understood. The Xuanyue sect must have also secured a share of the unknown ruins, and Kong Tingyun, being at the late Foundation Establishment stage, was naturally dispatched there.

Kong Tingyun had just returned from the north, yet her aura was stable, and her attire was immaculate. She showed no signs of having returned from a major battle; instead, she looked as if she had just emerged from secluded cultivation, having made significant progress.

She was as warm as ever, landing within the formation with a sweet smile. "I had sect business here," she said softly, "and when I heard you were stationed nearby, I came to see you as soon as I finished my tasks."

Li Qinghong dismissed the others and led her into the cave mansion, remarking, "It's been years, Tingyun, you've changed so much."

Kong Tingyun now carried herself with a much more noble air. Perhaps it was due to recently emerging from intense cultivation; though her eyes still curved with a smile, her clothes and the glow of her spiritual power exuded a sharp, powerful aura.

"I received a fortunate opportunity," Kong Tingyun said, smiling and shaking her head, "but our friendship hasn't changed. Please don't treat me as a stranger, Qinghong."

Kong Tingyun smiled, shaking her head, and sat beside her. "There were too many people earlier, so it wasn't good to speak freely," she whispered. "What I called 'sect business' was actually related to the fallen Dongning Palace. I saw many people and events in there... though it was only a few months, it felt like years."

Li Qinghong nodded gently. Kong Tingyun continued, "Our family's influence was originally between the Xu and Ning states in earlier years. We only moved to Jiangnan after a family upheaval, so we have some understanding of these matters. I gained benefits in Dongning Palace and also heard some news."

She lowered her voice further: "Qinghong, do you remember Fannu Mohe Fahuei?"

Hearing the name, Li Qinghong's expression immediately turned serious. "Of course, I haven't forgotten."

Li Tongya died because of that incident; not only Li Qinghong, but who in the Li family didn't know? Kong Tingyun continued, "He had cultivated for nine lives and was only a step away from achieving the Dharma Aspect. He fell at Bianyan Mountain, causing the already fragmented Fannu Dao to decline sharply..."

"But I met a monk there and gathered information from him... He said that in earlier years, a loyal Venerable of the Fannu Dao returned from the northern desert, was ambushed and severely wounded, but managed to escape and vanish."

Li Qinghong's keen gaze met Kong Tingyun's eyes, and her heart skipped a beat like lightning. *'Is this truly information she gathered? Or is Changxi using Tingyun to deliver a warning?'*

Regardless of which it was, it made little difference, as Changxi had shown favor to her family more than once. Li Qinghong quickly thanked her, but Kong Tingyun waved her hand, saying gravely, "No need to thank me, Qinghong. There's more than just this... there's trouble."

"Firstly, a Formless Master escaped into your clan's territory and was killed. This Master was a favored Arhat of the Five-Eyed Venerables, and taking life is the primary cause... I fear they will come seeking trouble."

"Secondly... there's a Venerable in the north, named Nuzi, who seems to have fixated on Senior Li Xuanfeng. He's been quietly observing from the shadows. Although he dares not act with so many Purple Palace cultivators present, it's still unsettling..."

Calculating the full implications, it seemed three Venerables were targeting the Li family. Li Qinghong's heart sank, and she cupped her hands in thanks, "Many thanks for the sect's warning... I will remember this kindness."

Kong Tingyun waved her hand and replied, "There's also some good news. Years ago, your clan inquired about the whereabouts of a Bright Yang spiritual artifact. I hadn't heard anything until now, but I finally saw a Bright Yang Purple Palace spiritual object, the 'Bright Light Heavenly Stone,' in Dongning Palace!"

The Li family had inquired about spiritual objects several times. The Cui family had originally pointed them towards the Ning family's connections, but Li Xuanfeng's inquiry confirmed that Yuansu had indeed obtained a Su Yuanhua from the Eastern Fire Grotto-Heaven.

However, he had long ago traded this spiritual object with True Immortal Puyu from overseas for "Year Winter Cold Qi," which helped Ning Wan break through. The object thus fell into True Immortal Puyu's hands, but this True Immortal's sect was hard to find and their whereabouts elusive, leaving no further leads.

Hearing this, Li Qinghong's spirits immediately lifted. She quickly looked up and asked, "Has it fallen into your hands, sister?"

Kong Tingyun regretfully shook her head. "I was in a dangerous situation at the time," she whispered, "and only caught a fleeting glimpse. That hexagonal white stone glittered with brilliant light, with intersecting light and fire at its sides, scorching the surrounding clouds to an orange-red color—it was indeed the Bright Light Heavenly Stone."

"This Bright Light Heavenly Stone was fought over by many and eventually ended up in the hands of Yu Fuzi of the Changxiao Sect."

Li Qinghong fell silent. Kong Tingyun, however, raised an eyebrow and whispered, "This person has some strength and also has a grudge against me. It's just that I don't know where he is now..."

Kong Tingyun's hint was subtle but clear, and Li Qinghong's heart sank.

The relationship between the Changxiao Sect and the Xuanyue Sect was not good, and Li Qinghong herself had actually killed members of the Changxiao Sect, a fact yet to be exposed.

Kong Tingyun clearly had no intention of acquiring the item herself, and likely didn't believe the Li family possessed anything that could tempt Yu Fuzi. Yet, Li Qinghong couldn't simply agree with her and remained silent.

Kong Tingyun spoke softly, "Yu Fuzi is a direct descendant of Changxiao, and one of the Changxiao Sect's two Purple Palace cultivators should be observing from the void now... it's indeed a difficult matter. I've delivered the news; if your clan has allies, you might try, but consider it carefully."

Li Qinghong quietly thanked her. Kong Tingyun was naturally referring to Xiao Chuting, but in recent years, the Xiao family had become increasingly low-key, secluded in cultivation. Xiao Chuting was often absent from Jiangnan, and the Xiao family members avoided most affairs, making them unlikely to be of help.

Kong Tingyun chatted for a few more moments before departing on the wind. Li Qinghong saw her off, then returned to her cave mansion, where she thoughtfully began writing a letter.

***

The Li Family.

Winter snow fell softly. This year's snow was heavier than usual, accumulating on the long stone walls along the bank, a clear contrast of grey and white. Several pedestrians hurried past, clutching new quilts.

This riverside dam had been built due to the massive flood caused by the two sects leveraging the death of the Yuan family's ancestor. The lake water had receded long ago, leaving behind the long, grey-white dam wall.

Li Zhouwei, cloaked in a black cape, walked casually along the snow-covered path, followed only by An Siwei and Chen Yang.

His father, Li Chengliao, now at the late Qi Refinement stage, had gradually handed over family affairs to him to focus on mountain cultivation. Although Li Zhouwei hadn't officially taken the patriarch's position, all major and minor family matters had fallen into his hands.

In earlier generations, the Li family had undergone reforms, showing a tendency to separate secular clan affairs from cultivation matters, much like Li Yuanping and Li Yuanjiao, or Li Xicheng and Li Xijun. Now, however, things were different.

On Mount Qingdu, with Li Xijun severely injured and Li Ximing in seclusion, Li Zhouwei had taken charge. Li Chengliao had also relinquished authority, so affairs of the Central Hall now also rested with Li Zhouwei.

He handled it with composure, sitting in the Central Hall each day, his brush flowing like a dragon as he resolved dozens of complex clan matters in fifteen minutes. He would then shake out his robes and return to Mount Qingdu, without any delay.

Having cultivated for a long time, he even found time now to observe the lives of the common people by the lake.

A faint golden light flowed in his eyes, and a small green bird, transformed from the magical artifact Qingxuan, perched on his shoulder. This artifact, a gift from Yuan Tuan, manifested a lifelike spiritual sparrow.

"How have the seven remnant families been arranged?" Li Zhouwei asked softly, his hands clasped across his chest. Behind him, Chen Yang immediately replied, "They have been assigned to various towns to await orders. As people in atonement, they are all very diligent, though their status is a notch lower than the other families."

The "remnant families" Li Zhouwei referred to were naturally those left after the Yu family's split. All these families had been moved to the southernmost part of the mountainous Yue region, where they competed with various tribes.

An Siwei calmly responded, "Reporting to the Young Master, all seven families now use Mount Nanzhang in the southernmost part of the mountainous Yue region as their designation. They all claim to be from Nanzhang and no longer mention their past."

"Quite clever," Li Zhouwei casually remarked, noting "Nanzhang" in his mind. He mused, "They are quite a useful lineage... They aren't afraid to offend others and were born in a dangerous region. That place is treacherous, so a bit of significant responsibility won't lead to their annihilation, and it can also help balance the internal clans."

From An Siwei's single phrase, "all claim to be from Nanzhang," Li Zhouwei understood that these seven clans were deliberately cultivating a shared sense of enmity. This would allow them, firstly, to deal with the local mountainous Yue tribes, and secondly, to secure a foothold among the various towns where influential families vied openly and secretly.

Over a hundred years, the Li family had developed internal factions. Chen Yang, who stood behind him, represented the Chen clan but was also a leader of the Lijing Four Towns faction among the various peaks.

An Siwei naturally represented the Huayu Seven Towns. The other Li family branches, the Wutu Eight Towns, Huaqian Four Towns, the Eighteen Mi Lin Towns, the Twenty-Six Eastern Mountain Yue Tribes... all engaged in external conflicts, yet also harbored internal disagreements. The complexity was vastly different from a century ago.

Among these, the Lijing faction was the most powerful. Li Zhouwei's decision to heavily rely on Chen Yang, whose reputation was always poor and disliked by many families, while also bringing in An Siwei, who was trusted by the Huayu families, was naturally based on these considerations.

He was just considering promoting one or two people from Nanzhang when he saw a subordinate rush forward to report: "Your Highness! News from the Clan Affairs Court!"

The trusted aide took a letter from his sleeve and handed it to Li Zhouwei. He opened it and glanced at it, a rare hint of joy appearing between his brows.

"Xu Peiyu is pregnant."

Xu Peiyu was the first woman Li Zhouwei had taken into his home. Although he later married women from the An and Tian clans and now had four concubines to stabilize public sentiment, Xu Peiyu still held some importance in his heart.

"No wonder." This woman, whenever she saw him, only wanted to be intimate, often not resting until completely exhausted. For the past two days, there had been no news, and he had thought she was finally taking a break. It turned out she was pregnant.

He put away the letter, dismissed the two attendants, and rode the wind to Mount Lijing, landing in the spacious, white jade courtyard of the Central Hall. The guards on both sides bowed down, and Li Zhouwei walked directly inside.

"Greetings, Your Highness!" Instantly, white-armored court guards knelt on both sides, their jade halberds and swords clanging crisply as they neatly arranged themselves. Their synchronized voices echoed throughout the grand hall.

Li Zhouwei's boots made cold sounds on the floor. Unlike his father, Li Chengliao, who would pause and bid the guards rise first, Li Zhouwei walked all the way to the end of the hall before a faint command drifted back: "Rise!"

He took several more steps forward, quickly reaching the back hall. His father, Li Chengliao, had only one wife, so this area had always been empty in the past. Now, however, it was bustling, with maids frequently seen hurrying past.

Xu Peiyu's chambers were nearby. As Li Zhouwei entered the hall, he saw a physician step forward, bowing respectfully as he announced, "Congratulations, Your Highness! Madam Xu is one month pregnant."

The physician raised his eyelids but heard no reply, only seeing the gleaming jade boots standing motionless before him.

*'They say it's hard to gauge the moods of important people... It's true,'* he thought. Sweat dripped down his forehead as he heard the voice before him: "One month?"

Li Zhouwei's voice was tinged with coldness. He had seen Xu Peiyu several times this month; as a cultivator, how could he not tell if she was pregnant? He simply felt that this physician's medical skills were poor, and he was spouting nonsense.

"Husband." Xu Peiyu hurried forward to greet him. Li Zhouwei glanced at her belly, and his expression softened considerably. He waved away the sweating physician and carefully observed Xu Peiyu's complexion.

Indeed, although she seemed spirited, there were dark circles under her eyes, subtly revealing a decline in vitality. Her cheeks were also much thinner than usual. Li Zhouwei remained silent and followed her into the hall.

Golden light flowed in his eyes, and his expression was grim. *'This child is less than ten days old, yet it already looks like a month...'*

Xu Peiyu, unaware, chattered away, pulling him into conversation. Li Zhouwei calmly reassured her. The woman, keenly observing his eyes, whispered, "These past few days, I've often felt dizzy and muddled, with my qi and blood depleted. I've nearly fainted a few times. Perhaps I need more tonic medicine..."

"I'll make the arrangements... I'll ask an elder to examine you first." An ominous premonition rose in Li Zhouwei's heart. He carefully looked at her again, then slowly walked out, taking to the wind, leaving her waiting in the hall.

Not until Li Zhouwei had completely vanished did a hint of panic appear in Xu Peiyu's expression. She felt her entire essence flowing into her belly and sat blankly in her seat, a faint terror surfacing in her heart.

Whenever she was intimate with Li Zhouwei, a peony fragrance would intoxicatingly overwhelm her, almost causing her to lose consciousness. It was only after Li Zhouwei had been gone for some time that Xu Peiyu slowly began to feel fear, yet as soon as he approached the hall, she would again rush out, overjoyed, to greet him.

"His Highness is mysteriously awe-inspiring, captivating one's soul, with yellow eyes and golden pupils; he is not like a human but rather like a demonic being..."

"How can a human bear a child with a demonic being? How can this be? He might easily devour me!" "He is like a demonic being..."

Xu Peiyu dared not tell anyone, and even to her family, she only spoke of the child as a blessing. At that moment, she felt a chill in her feet and sat silently, a sensation like a heavy stone pressing down in her abdomen, making it difficult for her to breathe.

The suggestion has been received. I'll take a short break and will provide an extra update tomorrow or the day after.