Chapter 66: Emergency Aid

Li Xiangping was one year older than Li Yesheng, but having cultivated immortality, he looked even younger. At this moment, he was holding a scroll of magical techniques, leaning back in a stone chair, and reading intently.

Li Yesheng and his son stood respectfully to the side, their heads bowed, gazing at the ground.

"As for Xuan'er's arrangements, let him decide. Old Xu is a benefactor to our Li family, and any trouble this might cause is perfectly acceptable."

Li Xiangping read a few lines from the wooden slip before slowly speaking:

"Is there anything else?"

"The young master has broken through. Li Qiuyang has come up the mountain to visit."

Li Yesheng answered respectfully, his head still bowed. Behind him, Li Xiewen kept his gaze fixed on the clean floor, not daring to look up at the surrounding furnishings.

"Good."

Li Xiangping raised an eyebrow, a slight smile appearing on his face, and asked as if casually:

"How long has Li Qiuyang been stuck at the third level of Embryonic Respiration, the Cycle of Circulation?"

"He hasn't broken through for three years."

Li Yesheng had already done his homework before coming, so he answered without hesitation.

Hearing this, Li Xiangping raised his head and smiled:

"You've done well. Go back and tell Li Qiuyang to cultivate diligently and not be distracted."

"Yes."

Li Yesheng nodded and then said:

"The Wan family sent people again this month to ask for help, even requesting food and medicine for injuries."

"Oh?"

Li Xiangping frowned slightly and said softly:

"Before the New Year, they said Wan Xiaohua had broken through to the Spirit Initiation Wheel and reached the peak of Embryonic Respiration. How can they still be in such a predicament? This Ji Dengqi is truly formidable."

"As long as it's not excessive, give him what he wants."

Li Xiewen, who was standing nearby, was listening intently. Li Xiangping glanced at him and said softly:

"Xiewen has grown up now."

Li Xiewen quickly bowed and said:

"Greetings, Patriarch."

"Tomorrow, go to Lidaokou and assist Xu Wenshan. Loafing around in the village all day isn't good."

Li Xiangping smiled and said to Li Yesheng.

"I have indulged him too much."

Li Yesheng quickly apologized. Seeing Li Xiangping wave his hand, he led Li Xiewen away.

The two walked silently along the mountain path. After descending Meichi Mountain, Li Yesheng finally spoke:

"You and Xuan Xuan have a deep bond. The Patriarch is willing to use your talents. When you're under Xu Wenshan, you must learn diligently. Don't cause trouble with others. Xu Wenshan is a clever man; he won't make things difficult for you."

Li Xiewen mumbled a reply and then asked:

"Is the Patriarch sending me out to be an overseer?"

Li Yesheng shook his head and replied:

"In five years at the shortest, or seven years at the longest, when I can no longer work, and Li Xuanxuan takes charge of the family, you will be transferred back. There's no need to rush; just temper yourself well."

"Yes, thank you for your guidance, Father."

Meichi Mountain Cave Abode.

Li Xiangping frowned, a trace of vexation in his heart. For the past five years, he had still been refining at the fourth level of Embryonic Respiration, the Azure Origin Wheel, without reaching the Jade Capital Wheel.

Li Tongya wanted to find a Bright Spirit Powder for him, but Wan Tiancang told him that one such powder was worth twenty spirit stones. Whenever this pill appeared on the market, it was immediately snatched up, making it impossible to acquire without connections. He was left speechless and retreated disgruntledly.

"Patriarch!"

As Li Xiangping was pondering, a voice reported from outside the cave. An eleven or twelve-year-old child entered; it was Chen Donghe, Chen Erniu's youngest son, who had been discovered to possess spiritual apertures years ago and was now cultivating with Li Xiangping in the Meichi Mountain Cave Abode.

Looking at the only child discovered to possess spiritual apertures in nearly a decade, Li Xiangping asked with a smile:

"What is it?"

"Wan Tiancang of the Wan family requests an audience."

"Enter."

Li Xiangping took out the tea set. Watching Wan Tiancang enter the cave abode with a frown, and Chen Donghe discreetly withdraw, he smiled and said:

"Brother Wan, to what do I owe this visit?"

"Only Brother Li can still manage a smile."

Wan Tiancang forced a bitter smile, bowed deeply, and said:

"My family intends to carry out an ambush. Everything will be delivered as agreed."

"Why the rush? My second brother went to Guanyun Peak seven days ago to deliver offerings. Did the Wan family not send anyone? Why ambush now?"

Li Xiangping frowned, his face full of doubt, and asked.

"Ji Dengqi must have learned from somewhere that these few days are when the Moon Lake Peak of the Green Pond Sect collects offerings. He's attacked my Huqian Mountain for three consecutive nights. As soon as an hour passes, that old fellow immediately retreats to avoid being attacked by qi-refining cultivators from the county reinforcements. Our family is exhausted because of him. Hundreds of mortals have died, and even two cultivators."

Wan Tiancang's eyes were bloodshot as he explained through gritted teeth:

"My Wan family can't even produce the offerings we need to deliver now. We've reached a point of no return. We've spent the last ten-plus years depleting our family's foundation significantly. If we don't fight to the death now, I fear we won't have the strength to fight again in the future."

"Very well."

Hearing this, Li Xiangping also gritted his teeth and said in a deep voice:

"Everything will proceed as agreed. Once your Huqian Mountain formation is activated, I will activate a talisman and attack Ji Dengqi from afar. Regardless of whether the plan succeeds or fails, this formation cultivation inheritance must be delivered to my Li family!"

After saying this, Li Xiangping frowned, sensing something amiss, and said in a deep voice:

"The date for Moon Lake Peak's offerings varies every five years, and we're always notified by messengers. How would Ji Dengqi know the exact date for Moon Lake Peak to collect offerings? Could Senior Xiaohua be spreading this information around? Brother Tiancang, there must be something fishy going on!"

Wan Tiancang, who had been swept away by his family's urgent message, now calmed down and thought. He too frowned and fell silent.

Li Xiangping, who was always cautious, vaguely sensed something amiss. Seeing Wan Tiancang's silence, he began to ponder in secret:

"The Ji family must have some reliance, a method to eradicate the Wan family. Wan Xiaohua is probably terrified right now and hastily pulling my Li family into this. But my Li family and the Wan family are as close as lips and teeth; how can I stand by and watch the Wan family be wiped out?"

"Brother Li!"

Wan Tiancang's face instantly turned pale. Not knowing what he had thought of, he said tremblingly:

"Ji Dengqi probably knows that my Wan family has allies backing us. He's deliberately applying pressure bit by bit to force our reinforcements out. This... this is an open scheme!"

Li Xiangping's expression turned grim. He stared coldly at Wan Tiancang and cursed:

"Damn it, this isn't just Ji Dengqi's open scheme, it's also your family head Wan Xiaohua's open scheme!"

---

After seeing off the pleading Wan Tiancang, Li Xiangping let out a deep breath, his heart troubled. Seeing Li Xuanxuan slowly enter the cave abode, he quietly recounted Wan Tiancang's words.

"If Ji Dengqi didn't besiege Huqian Mountain after learning that these days were for delivering offerings, attempting to prevent the Wan family from making their deliveries, then he must have a way to eliminate the Wan family, which is why he's putting so much effort into attacking them."

"Now he's allowing the Wan family to send out requests for help, so he must have a way to wipe out all their reinforcements in one fell swoop."

Li Xuanxuan pondered for a moment, also looking worried, and shook his head with a bitter smile:

"Yet, my family has no choice but to help. This is the only path leading to the county. If the Wan family is destroyed, my Li family will be isolated in the mountains, not only cut off from the outside world but also subject to harassment and oppression from the Ji family."

"We must help."

Li Xiangping shook his head and said in a deep voice:

"We don't seek to kill Ji Dengqi; we only need to relieve the Wan family's siege."

"We just need to see what Ji Dengqi's trump card truly is, and what makes him so brazen."