Chapter 616: Condolences

Literary Arts, Mystic Mirror Immortal Clan!

Si Boxiu stood with his hands behind his back, seemingly lost in thought. The Perfected Lord, who was at the late Zi Mansion realm, remained silent. Si Yuanli, however, was no stranger to reading expressions. His heart already held doubts, and a chill of dread immediately surged within him.

‘Could it be…’

Just as his apprehension rose, he noticed an expression of interest dawn on the face of the Perfected Lord Yuanxiu before him. The old man turned his back and spoke:

“Li Xuanfeng… though not yet at Zi Mansion, is nevertheless an outstanding figure of his time. Yuan Su’s judgment has always been good.”

These words eased Si Yuanli’s mind. The old man before him pondered, raised his eyebrows, looked north, and mused to himself:

‘A clever scheme. That boy Hou Fu must have played a part. Jianmen and Hengzhu are too noble to be involved... Xiao Chuting is also preoccupied… Who else… Could it be Chang Xi? Does he have such audacity?’

It no longer mattered whose scheme it was. Si Boxiu quickly turned his head and casually said:

“I met Chi Buzi in Anhuai Heaven. He has already reached the late Zi Mansion stage. Cultivating on his own, he is truly a gem of the Chi clan.”

These words made Si Yuanli’s face turn pale. Before he could ask more, Si Boxiu glanced at him and continued:

“However, he is solely devoted to seeking immortality and says he will no longer concern himself with matters of Qingchi. He has also severed his worldly ties with the Chi family.”

Si Yuanli immediately relaxed, feeling more confident in his plans. He formed a hand seal and cast a spell, drawing a small cauldron from his sleeve. Along with a neatly bundled scroll, he said in a deep voice:

“I have retrieved the item the Perfected Lord requested.”

This small cauldron was, of course, the large bronze cauldron from Danning Palace. Amidst the constant battles in Danning Palace, there was no time to refine it, so he could only carry the large cauldron as he moved about. Now, he had found the opportunity to refine it, transforming it into a palm-sized cauldron.

Si Boxiu casually put it away. His old eyes narrowed, and he said in a hoarse voice:

“After I return to the sect, you are to say that I have entered a death seclusion to heal my injuries, and that I will ignore all external matters.”

Si Yuanli immediately understood and nodded in assent. He then asked in a low voice:

“Ancestor… about Anhuai Heaven…”

“No need to ask further.”

Perfected Lord Yuanxiu casually cut him off, saying softly:

“From now on, in the territories under Qingchi’s rule, and even in the two southeastern seas, if you learn of any talented young cultivators of true qi, report them to me immediately.”

“Yes!”

Si Yuanli replied. Si Boxiu’s gaze finally rested on his face. His tone softened slightly as he said quietly:

“You are more sensible than those uncles and cousins of yours. From you downwards, Tongyi and Tongwen are all understanding. In the past, I had to carry the burden alone, but my Si family is destined to prosper, and we can now expand our influence.”

Si Yuanli understood his meaning. One matter had always been on his mind. Taking advantage of Perfected Lord Yuanxiu’s good mood, he whispered:

“It’s just that our family’s Foundation Establishment cultivators are still too few. I wonder if there’s a chance to bring my elder brother back…”

As soon as he mentioned his elder brother, Si Yuanbai, Si Boxiu’s face immediately darkened, a hint of anger appearing. He said coldly:

“Him? His mind is too rigid, his heart too soft, and he cannot see the situation clearly… He is too trusting of others’ words. If you invited him back, he would only work against us! It’s better to just let him live freely.”

“Perfected Lord, please calm your anger…”

“Calm my anger?”

Si Boxiu’s face was grim as he said in a low voice:

“He dared to rebuke Chi Wei in front of all the Perfected Lords! Who gave him such audacity! That old dog’s eyes were green with desire to prolong his life; even Yuan Su had to yield to him! Yet he, of all people, ran up to Qingchi Peak to curse him!”

“If I hadn’t acted first to suppress him beneath the pagoda, Chi Wei, whose lifespan was nearing its end, would have retaliated without a care for my face or for his descendants. Now, not even his bones would be found!”

Si Yuanli could only sigh. Si Boxiu’s expression only softened after he looked at Si Yuanli’s face, and he said in a low voice:

“On Qingchi Peak, there is a Moonbright Glazed Tree, a spiritual item that can aid in breaking through to Zi Mansion. If you get the chance, you might want to keep an eye on it… As for Chi Zhiyun… pay him no mind. If he breaks through too early, I am still here.”

‘Breaking through to Zi Mansion!’

These words struck Si Yuanli like thunder. The temptation of Zi Mansion’s divine abilities was immense. He felt a surge of heat in his heart, his mind reeled, utterly disbelieving.

Si Boxiu gave a command and paid no further mind to what arrangements his junior would make. With a flick of his sleeve, he sent Si Yuanli back to the mortal realm. The old man, meanwhile, traveled alone through the air, pondering:

“Yuanli’s actions were ruthless, but they suited the situation. All the Zi Mansion cultivators were of one mind. Li Xuanfeng, this ‘immortal bow,’ has been fully utilized. He protected Jiangnan and died at the opportune moment, so I don’t need to intervene.”

“Let the youngsters stir up trouble; it’s a good opportunity… As for Chi Zhiyun…”

Si Boxiu let out a cold laugh and whispered:

“That boy fears Buzi, but he is too impatient. After this, Zi Pei will break through, and a dragon-kin will devour thunder… The spiritual aura of heaven and earth changes every ten-plus years. Qingchi Mountain is only a thousand li from Ziyan Blessed Land. Breaking through to Zi Mansion and achieving Fire Virtue divine abilities? That will lead to ten years after ten years of wasted effort for you!”

The old man put away the talisman in his hand. His figure gradually faded into the void, leaving behind only a low murmur of self-talk:

“Changhuai Mountain sent out several Zi Mansion cultivators to protect this Golden attribute… they likely have a plan. Wu’s immortal system is different from Yue’s. With four sects and nine clans, Changhuai Mountain stands above all other factions, making it much easier for them to do whatever they wish…”

Moon-Gazing Lake.

The funeral rites had lasted for three days. Li Xuanfeng’s storage bag still lay quietly on the table. Everyone, having been busy with the funeral, now sat down together.

Li Xuanxuan awoke after two days of drunkenness. The Wanling Flower sustains life and dispels worries; Li Xuanfeng had specially prepared it, allowing him to drink freely with an open heart. Its effects were still active, and the old man seemed somewhat dazed.

Li Xijun took the roster in his hand, which was densely packed with names. After reading it carefully, he sighed inwardly.

In this North-South conflict, the Li family’s contribution could be said to be paramount among all clans. In the Chaos of Chengshuiling, the Rout at Yanshan Pass, and the Battle of Jiang’an, the Li family had deployed all its manpower and suffered heavy losses.

The Chaos of Chengshuiling and the Rout at Yanshan Pass were both unforeseen great disturbances. In Chengshuiling, all cultivators below Foundation Establishment were annihilated, and at Yanshan Pass, less than one in ten survived. As for the Battle of Jiang’an, Moon-Gazing Lake was directly behind it, and the Li family members fought with the greatest disregard for their own lives.

Although almost all of the family’s Foundation Establishment cultivators were preserved, the various prominent families and guest elders, as well as the Li family’s Chengming generation, suffered an unprecedented blow. White mourning gauze fluttered from every household.

Some of the Li family’s guest elders with cultivation bases had gone North. Chen Donghe was injured in the Battle of Jiang’an, fortunately not severely. An Zheyin was lost; only Li Wen and Tian Zhongqing remained. The rest, every single one, had largely perished in the North.

The Chengming generation was even more depleted. From Yanshan Pass, only Li Mingguang escaped back. Li Chengliao and Li Chenghuai, who defended Jiang’an, along with Li Cheng from the East Sea, were the only four remaining of the original dozen or so Qi Refinement cultivators.

Li Xijun looked around, his heart heavy. He looked up at Li Qinghong; the woman had already seen the roster and was seated at the head, clearly not in a good mood either.

The restrictions on Li Xuanfeng’s storage bag had already been lifted. Li Qinghong picked it up and looked at Li Xuanxuan, who shook his head. She could only rise and said gently:

“According to the elder’s last wishes, all items will be made public property.”

She opened the storage bag, and a cascade of items poured out. Li Xuanfeng had evidently prepared before coming North, leaving a large portion of spiritual items for Li Yuanqin. Most of the current items were obtained from Danning Palace, emanating an ancient, weathered aura, dazzling and glittering.

Li Qinghong swept her spiritual sense over the items, and immediately counted everything on the table, pausing slightly in surprise.

‘Seventeen Qi Refinement level magic artifacts, eleven Foundation Establishment spiritual items, four precious medicines, and seventy-five types of Qi Refinement spiritual items!’

There were many spiritual items, but none at the Fetal Breath level. Li Xuanfeng had fought fiercely back and forth in Danning Palace, acquiring far more Foundation Establishment spiritual items than the Li family’s entire inventory!

The Li family had operated by the lake for a century. Their inventory of Fetal Breath spiritual items was naturally full, and they had a good number of Qi Refinement level magic artifacts. However, Foundation Establishment spiritual items and precious medicines were few and far between, and Qi Refinement spiritual items usually numbered less than fifty types.

Setting aside the armor prepared for Li Zhouwei and other miscellaneous items, several items placed in the very center immediately drew everyone’s gaze.

From left to right, these were a stack of golden talismans, a letter, an incense burner, an arm-length painted screen, and a drop of mercury.

Li Qinghong examined them closely. The golden talismans and the mercury drop were too profound to discern their true nature. The incense burner was an ancient magic artifact of the Foundation Establishment level, not yet refined, appearing dark red, with the characters “Sima” inscribed on its base.

She first picked up the letter and unfolded it. The letter paper was a type of spiritual fabric, folded casually, and had been pressed by the incense burner for who knows how many years. There were still several deep base imprints on the letter, and the writing, in ancient seal script, soared like dragons:

“Brothers Chen Xuanli and Chen Xuanxiang have moved south into Yue and established a sect called Lingyu Gate. The King of Yue greatly values them. They are difficult to deal with. The noble clans have long guarded the riverbanks, and must still be wary… The True Monarch has not responded for several years; caution is paramount in all matters.”

This letter appeared to be correspondence from a cultivator of the Ning Kingdom to the Sima family, concerning the ancient history of Lingyu Gate. Li Qinghong read it carefully and thought to herself:

“The Chen clan of Lingyu Gate truly migrated from the Ning Kingdom. No wonder they fully assisted in besieging Perfected Lord Donghua; it must be due to the Ning-Li alliance.”

“The King of Yue greatly valued them… The Chen clan has now been wiped out, and the Yang clan’s numbers are also dwindling. I wonder when that ancestor will be able to break through.”

She passed the letter along, then picked up the screen. This screen had also not been refined with magical power and had been shrunk to arm’s length. The painting on the screen’s surface was indistinct, and it lay quietly in her palm; it was also an ancient magic artifact.

However, the screen had a mysterious luster and had been specifically placed in a corner by Li Xuanfeng. It was clearly no ordinary item, so Li Qinghong paid it extra attention.

These two ancient magic artifacts were extraordinary; simply refining them would take several months. They couldn’t display their full might immediately. Just as Li Qinghong was about to speak, the old man transformed from a white ape landed in the hall and boomed:

“A message from Jiang’an states that the cultivators from the North have retreated. The Qingchi immortal retinue has arrived at the North Bank and is heading directly for Qingdu.”

Li Xizhi, who was nearby, also nodded and said:

“I have also received news. The defeat at Yanshan was severe; it is said that the great formation was breached, and everyone scattered. But nine times out of ten, few will have survived.”

Li Xizhi was, after all, the Qingchi Peak Master, and thus better informed. Upon hearing this, everyone exchanged glances. Li Xijun thoughtfully raised his head and whispered:

“For it to be so tragic, a Zi Mansion cultivator must have been scheming. Uncle-Grandfather calculated correctly; the Chi family’s unwieldy power has become evident.”

Li Qinghong had personally participated in this matter and knew the most details. She even knew that Perfected Lord Chang Xi of Xuanyue Sect also had a part, but these matters were not suitable for widespread discussion. She merely nodded subtly. Li Xijun followed closely, and the group rode the wind out of the great formation together.

Li Xizhi still looked somewhat dejected. The aunt and nephews were all clad in white. In the distance, a patch of white spiritual boat light had appeared. Though it couldn’t compare to the Cloud-Reflecting Skiff, it was still a decent immortal vessel.

It was rather amusing. The Cloud-Reflecting Skiff was originally a rare and exceptionally luxurious asset. Since the North-South conflict was ultimately a battle between grand cultivators, Chi Zhiyan was reluctant to use it. Thus, the Qingchi Sect only used the Cloud-Reflecting Skiff to transport people, and this immortal vessel was still docked at Qingchi Peak.

Without the Cloud-Reflecting Skiff, Si Yuanli’s formation was noticeably weaker. It lacked the usual prestige of the Qingchi Sect, where the radiant glow would precede the arrival of immortals. The white cloud-boat swayed in the distance and was only noticed when it reached the lake.

Si Yuanli paid no attention. He sat in the cabin, somewhat lost in thought. His mind had not yet fully recovered from the shock:

“Zi Mansion… So the Moonbright Glazed Tree is a spiritual item that aids in breaking through to Zi Mansion!”

The Qingchi Sect actually had many methods for breaking through to Foundation Establishment. The Tri-Complete Boundary Breaking Pill, Tonghua Powder, Suiyuan Pill… most of these were used by the direct descendants of the Chi, Si, Ning, and Tang clans. As for the Suiyuan Pill, it was an even better item; simply consuming it directly offered a 5% chance. If it was refined with an immortal foundation or a Foundation Establishment demonic beast, the chances would multiply several times over… If the immortal foundation corresponded to the cultivator’s cultivation technique, it could even increase to 40-50%!

However, as a descendant of a Zi Mansion Immortal, Si Yuanli knew that methods for aiding breakthroughs to Zi Mansion were exceedingly rare—medicinal pills? For some unknown reason, after the Heavenly Change, all previous pills that aided Zi Mansion breakthroughs became ineffective. Only a few types of useful pills emerged after the Heavenly Change, and they were extremely rare…

The only remaining options were cultivation techniques and secret arts. His Si family’s “Weisang Scripture” was a Zi Mansion cultivation technique, a relatively rare Wood Virtue, with a long history of transmission. It contained four secret arts; mastering them all could add a 20% chance of breakthrough, which was extremely rare.

“Ning Wan’s cultivation technique only has one secret art… Even the Chi family’s profound ‘Dark Floating Cloud Scripture’ has only four!”

Most of these secret arts were painstakingly developed by predecessors. Their quality wasn’t strongly tied to the cultivation technique’s grade, depending almost entirely on ancestral prestige. The Si family, with its long lineage, naturally fared better than the Ning family.

As for breaking through by consuming Zi Mansion spiritual items, it was very mysterious, with uncertain probabilities. To put it bluntly, most Zi Mansion breakthroughs were a gamble with one’s life… Now that he had this fruit, how could his heart not pound with excitement?

“My Lord… Qingdu Mountain has arrived!”

Si Yuanli was pulled back to reality by the words. He straightened his clothes and rose, lifting the jade curtain in the cabin. His gaze had grown sharp, completely different from before.

Taking control of Qingchi was not just about the Si family; it was Si Yuanli’s opportunity for Zi Mansion! The middle-aged man’s resolve had never been so firm, like iron. He swept aside the jade curtain with crisp, decisive movements, his face filled with sorrow, his eyes red as he stepped out to greet them.

Li Qinghong was personally waiting on the lake. With a glance, he saw that several of the Li family’s Foundation Establishment cultivators had all arrived, giving him ample respect. Si Yuanli truly felt a measure of grief and sorrow over Li Xuanfeng’s death; no pretense was needed, and his expression was quite natural.

Si Yuanli landed on the peak. He first looked at Li Ximing, finding that this person possessed abundant magical power but had no remarkable qualities. His focus then shifted to the graceful and dignified Li Xizhi, whom he secretly observed:

“This person is backed by the Yang and Li families, has profound cultivation, and acts with clarity. Chi Zhiyun often tried to curry favor with her in the past, and I’ve long seen through it… Fortunately, Chi Zhiyan has committed every foolish act imaginable.”