Chapter 787: West Bank Blood Letter

Chen Yang, beaming with joy, replied, "The Duxian Dao sect withdrew overnight and vanished. The entire wilderness is now empty. We traveled east until we reached Shanjun County, where people finally stopped us. It seems Shanjun and Xuanyue mountain gates have been occupied."

Kong Guxi and the others were overjoyed to return to the wilderness. They left two people to reorganize their forces, while the rest accompanied Kong Guxi to the lake to offer congratulations and express gratitude, waiting outside the island.

"Good!"

Li Zhouluo stood up, beaming. Chen Yang bowed, also smiling broadly; they truly bore some resemblance. Chen Yang took out a jade box and said, "Reporting to the Patriarch, both artifacts are inside. I am now returning them to the clan."

He first presented the jade box, then took a dark, spherical bead from his robes and respectfully stated, "Reporting to the Patriarch, some time ago, demonic cultivators came to plunder. I, along with the Kong family members, cooperated with Lord Ding in an ambush. Although the demonic cultivator fortunately escaped, there was an unexpected gain."

"This is an artifact left behind by that demonic cultivator to cover their retreat. It was originally intended for self-detonation, but unexpectedly, Sect Master Kong deployed a spiritual mountain, barely managing to suppress it, allowing it to survive..."

He knelt respectfully, raising both hands to place the black bead in his palm. He replied, "This item is called the Ni Water Pearl. It is crafted from extremely pure Ni Water Cold Iron. While the material itself is not outstanding, the refining technique is exceptionally skillful, making it an artifact of cold qi."

This was also excellent news. Li Zhouluo nodded cheerfully. Given the strict rules of the Li clan, Li Zhouluo could not immediately examine anything presented to him. He simply had Di Liguang pick up the bead and inspect it. Meanwhile, Li Zhouluo asked, "I often hear that these demonic cultivators operate in groups of three to five. I didn't expect that even with Protector Ding's intervention, they would manage to escape. It seems these demonic cultivators are not ordinary individuals. Have you noticed anything particular about them?"

Chen Yang nodded repeatedly and replied, "Patriarch, you are wise. When Protector Ding and I acted together, we found that although these individuals appeared to be heavily imbued with demonic energy, their underlying cultivation was exceptionally pure. I suspect they are not rogue demonic cultivators but rather disguised practitioners from other orthodoxies. Fearing greater trouble, even though we had the opportunity to encircle and kill him, we only forced him to abandon his artifact and spared his life."

"These individuals are very powerful; they didn't exert their full strength in previous raids. However, we couldn't discern their sect. Protector Ding and I have speculated that they are most likely cultivators from overseas."

Li Zhouluo nodded slightly and glanced at Di Liguang, who was standing nearby. The young man from Shanyue replied, "Reporting to the Patriarch, this artifact is indeed extremely pure, with no traces of blood refinement."

Only then did Li Zhouluo say, "The clan will make a decision on this matter later, and your contribution will be noted. As for the Duxian Dao's withdrawal, it must have been an agreement among several Zifu cultivators, negotiating the relinquishment of Shanjun County... Protector, you have worked hard during this time. Several elders are waiting to see you. Please send the Kong family members up first."

Chen Yang bowed and withdrew. Li Zhouluo waited a moment, then Kong Guxi hastily entered the hall, clutching his robes.

"Greetings, Patriarch!"

Kong Guxi's eyebrows were now raised high, his eyes shining brightly, and the wrinkles on his face had smoothed out. His aged face seemed like a barometer of Xuanyue's destiny, now radiating excitement and vibrant cheer. He knelt firmly on the ground and respectfully declared, "The Duxian Dao has withdrawn! Congratulations, Patriarch!"

Kong Guxi was not one to care about appearances. A dignified late-stage Foundation Establishment cultivator, he knelt before Li Zhouluo without hesitation, which forced Kong Qiuyan, standing behind him, to also kneel. This woman, who previously always kept her head bowed and eyes almost closed when encountering members of the Li clan, now held her head high, finally revealing her gratitude.

On the other side, Fu Yuezi knelt like a stone statue, his eyes calm, as if everything was unrelated to him.

Li Zhouluo helped the sect master to his feet and smiled, "This is also good news for the sect master. All of Xuanyue's previous arrangements in the wilderness are now fully under your purview. The agreement between our two families from back then remains in effect, and the lake will not claim even half a bit of Xuanyue's territory."

Kong Guxi meekly assented, but the Li clan now had no desire to manage this situation. Li Zhouluo said gently, "Since the opposing side has retreated and the wilderness is back in our hands, the morale of the people must not be allowed to dissipate! The name of Xuanyue still needs to be re-established as soon as possible... Sect Master, you should delimit your territory, recruit a new batch of disciples, and rebuild Xuanyue as soon as possible!"

After these words were spoken, Kong Qiuyan, behind Kong Guxi, could barely believe it. There was no such thing as a free lunch in this world. Having received such immense kindness, even leaving behind most of their scriptures and sending away all their guest cultivators might not have been enough to escape the Moon Gazer's restrictions.

She had thought that the freedom she believed they would have to pay an unimaginable price for was simply being offered to them, leaving her bewildered and even shocked as she looked at Li Zhouluo.

Fu Yuezi, for the first time, showed a reaction; the face beneath his golden mask seemed to wear a hint of a smile.

Only Kong Guxi remained kneeling blankly, unable to respond for a moment.

While these words were excellent news to the other two, to Kong Guxi, they held an entirely different meaning:

'The agreement between your ancestors and our Venerable Master has been fulfilled by our clan to the utmost. Our assistance ends here. Our Venerable Master is currently missing; how could we attend to so much? The wilderness is being returned to your clan to quickly rebuild your sect. From now on, it's Xuanyue's own responsibility!'

Currently, the situation with the Xuanyue mountain gate was unclear, and the Duxian Dao was still eyeing them covetously. The Kong family only had Fu Yuezi, who excelled in combat; what could he accomplish in the wilderness? Establishing the sect now would undoubtedly be extremely dangerous...

From another perspective, there was nothing left for the Xuanyue Sect for the Li clan to exploit. Their mountain gate was completely lost, their Zifu spiritual artifacts and resources had been given to the Li clan, and their Zifu great formation was also gone. All that remained were a rudimentary Yugan Mountain lineage, a few Foundation Establishment elixirs, artifacts, and resources, which the Li clan might not even want.

He could only bow and say, "The wilderness is currently in chaos, and littered with wreckage. It requires thorough reorganization before we can consider rebuilding the mountain gate."

Although Li Zhouluo was also awaiting news from Shanjun County, his attitude remained firm. He replied, "Sect Master, there's no need to be polite. Our clan has no intention of encroaching upon Xuanyue's orthodoxy. The wilderness territory will be transferred to your sect, and the resources stored in the mountains will be returned to your sect by the Jade Courtyard Guards, not a single bit less. All subsequent arrangements are entrusted to your esteemed sect."

Kong Guxi's expression was awkward and uneasy; he remained stubbornly kneeling, saying with great shame, "Please, Patriarch, grant us some more time..."

Li Zhouluo nodded and said in a low voice, "Sect Master, rest assured. Properly manage the wilderness. With the three great mountains moved from Shanjun, Xuanyue's foundation still remains."

Kong Guxi, having heard the preceding and succeeding remarks, surmised that the Li clan wasn't forcing him to establish the sect immediately and let out a sigh of relief. Li Zhouluo didn't speak much more with Kong Guxi; he gave his instructions clearly and tactfully persuaded him to leave. The two people behind Kong Guxi, however, seemed to be in good spirits and followed him out of the main hall.

Li Zhouluo ordered someone to inquire about Shanjun County. With the Duxian Dao, which had been weighing heavily on him, now gone, and Xuanyue, which had been in his care, soon to be relinquished, his spirits soared. He smiled and said, "I hear Xinghan has just returned from the west. I have good news for her; quickly, have her come up!"

Di Liguang immediately descended. Before long, Li Xinghan entered the great hall, a sword on her back, covered in dust from travel. She respectfully said, "Greetings, Patriarch!"

"Sister, quickly, rise!"

Li Xinghan had indeed just returned from the desert and had also heard the news of the Duxian Dao's withdrawal. Her heart filled with joy, she congratulated Li Zhouluo and then asked her brother, "How are things in the desert?"

Li Xinghan knew her brother likely already knew the situation but still wanted to hear it from a clan member who had personally participated. She sighed and said, "There are many demonic cultivators. Protector An said there weren't so many in the desert before, but their numbers have increased in recent years. We expelled the demonic cultivators, but that section of the city wall has completely collapsed and can no longer draw qi."

"What a pity."

Most of the Li clan's Bright Yang cultivation techniques relied on drawing qi from that ancient city wall. Now, with no Zifu cultivators present, the source of qi was cut off, which was truly troublesome. Li Zhouluo lamented, "I also received a report saying that the desert outpost, separated by Xiping Mountain, was already difficult to maintain. The family viewed it as a hardship post, and direct descendants disliked going there. Now that the city wall has collapsed, everyone is saying we should just abandon it."

Li Xinghan frowned upon hearing this and advised, "Patriarch, our market city has been delayed in opening due to our entanglement with the Duxian Dao. It's 90% built and currently abandoned in the dense forest. While it may not be suitable to open now, it will eventually. If we can hold the desert outpost, increased trade there would greatly benefit the market city."

"The family's words are merely out of concern for their descendants; there's no need to heed them."

Li Zhouluo laughed heartily and asked, "I heard you brought something back for our fifth brother, is that right?"

Li Xinghan was not surprised. She had acquired the White Falcon Gold legitimately, using her own resources to compensate the clan in exchange for it, which Li Zhouluo naturally knew. She replied, "That's right. This time, I obtained seven taels of White Falcon Gold in the desert. It's for Fifth Brother. I already sent someone to deliver it."

Li Zhouluo shook his head and replied, "If you send it today, in a month or so, it might become a hairpin on some beauty's hair. You're not familiar with his character. In previous years, he asked me for various gold items multiple times... He might not be good at other things, but he's quite skilled at crafting hairpins."

Hearing this, Li Xinghan sighed and replied, "I also suspected those uses. However, it was the first time he asked me, and I didn't want to leave him hanging. Anyway, it's not anything important; consider it practice for his craftsmanship."

Li Zhouluo, in good spirits lately, chuckled and shook his head. He took a black scroll with silver edges from the desk and said, "Leaving that aside, I have some excellent news for you."

He smiled, "A few days ago, several clan elders were discussing matters and mentioned you. The Venerable Elder then brought up the topic of your artifact. Since the True Person is currently not in the clan and the requirements for forging a sword are very high, they thought you could inherit a sword from the family for your use."

Li Xinghan, a devotee of the sword, immediately grew excited upon hearing this and asked, "Heavens... I wonder which one it is?!"

Li Zhouluo unrolled the scroll in his hand, slowly unfurling it, and chuckled, "Three chi, nine cun, three fen long; ninety-two jin, twelve liang in weight; clear as flowing water, pure as white frost..."

'Hanlin!'

Li Xinghan knew the dimensions of the clan's spiritual swords by heart. As soon as Li Zhouluo mentioned the length, she guessed it, surprised and delighted. She exclaimed in astonishment, "Why Hanlin...?"

Many in the Li clan practiced swordsmanship. Hanlin was revered in the family as "the sword colder than winter snow, reaching the autumn harvest." It gained further prestige because its former owner was Li Xijun, who managed the family. Since Li Xijun had no descendants, the sword had remained in the treasury...

This sword's significance was unique among the clan's various swords. Aside from the Dragon-Coiled Pillar on Li Zhouluo's desk, which held more symbolic meaning than actual use, Hanlin was second only to Green Ruler.

Li Xinghan had considered that Li Zhouluo might pass down his Xu Shi sword to her after getting a new one, or that Li Chenghuai might replace her Dark Sea Serpent. She had never coveted Hanlin, and now she stood frozen in place.

Li Zhouluo sighed deeply and replied, "With the passing of Uncle Xijun, this sword was taken by the Venerable Elder. No one from the Zhong branch was qualified to wield it, so the Venerable Elder, overcoming all objections, decided to entrust it to you first."

Li Xinghan took the scroll with both hands and nodded solemnly. Such valuable items could not be transferred; she would have to personally retrieve it with the scroll. Li Xinghan's eyes reddened as she replied, "I will personally go and thank the Venerable Elder."

Li Xinghan was from the Bo branch. If any other elder from the Bo branch were to assign Hanlin to her, it would be a controversial matter. Only the Venerable Elder Li Xuanxuan could do so with impeccable integrity.

Li Zhouluo nodded, watching her leave. He spent most of the day handling affairs in the hall, feeling greatly pleased. Realizing he hadn't rested in several days, he sighed and finally allowed himself to go out for a stroll.

Just as he exited the hall, he saw several uncles and elders waiting outside the front, their faces grim. He immediately stopped, frowning, and asked, "What is it?"

Di Liguang shook his head.

Li Zhouluo had long since learned how persistent these clan members could be. They would shamelessly ask for resources and positions, one more audacious than the last, yet they were all elders. Seeing them gathered now, he knew it couldn't be good news. He said grimly, "Let's use the side hall. Don't let them see us."

Just as he turned, he saw Li Wen approaching with steady steps. Li Wen bowed before the hall and respectfully reported, "Reporting to the Patriarch, the Jade Courtyard Guards have received news that a group of cultivators climbed Qingdu Mountain to report, jointly writing a blood petition. They claim that people from the four Western Shore prefectures are colluding, engaging in fraud and suppression, and they request Qingdu to uphold justice."

Li Zhouluo's heart seized. The joy on his face instantly vanished, replaced by an expression of disbelief. He replied, "What?! The four Western Shore prefectures?!"

He froze on the spot and whispered, "Where are these people now?"

Li Wen replied, "They are all at Qingdu. Several elders have just emerged from their cultivation, and Lord Cheng Zhi has also been invited. The matter has become quite serious."

Although Li Cheng Zhi was a mortal, he was also the direct son of a Zifu cultivator. Li Wen, loyal as ever, still addressed him as 'Lord.' Li Zhouluo, however, suddenly broke into a cold sweat. The Li clan had sixteen prefectures, two peaks, and one mountain, with four prefectures alone on the Western Shore. To be blunt, since the establishment of the Li clan's prefecture-peak system, Qingdu had never experienced such a major incident, let alone a blood petition from numerous Western Shore cultivators! He gritted his teeth and muttered, "No wonder that group was blocking me outside the hall..."

The names of the sixteen prefectures, two peaks, and one mountain were all in Li Zhouluo's mind. He immediately brought up the names: "An Xuanxin, Ren Ting, Li Chengpan, Li Hun... They went to Qingdu, not Yuting... So, it's Li Chengpan and Li Hun causing trouble..."

The Western Shore was a scattering of small families and clans left by He Jiumen. They had always lacked their own voice within the Li clan, unwanted by any faction, yet they were rich in spiritual minerals. The prefectures and peaks there had always been divided among various factions...

"An Xuanxin represents the Huayu faction, Ren Ting's Ren clan belongs to the Lijing faction. As for the remaining, Li Chengpan is a direct descendant brought into the island, and Li Hun is a branch member... Good... They're all here!"

He closed his eyes briefly and asked, "I'm going to Qingdu now... You've heard about this already; is the evidence conclusive?"

Li Wen respectfully replied, "More or less, it's certain."

"Are Qingdu and Yuting blind or something..."

Li Zhouluo felt as if this news was a bolt from the blue. He hurried over, listening to Li Wen's earnest reply, "Lord, the matter is complicated; I don't understand it completely. Please come inside the peak for a detailed explanation."

Li Wen was honest and loyal, and it was precisely this honesty that made Li Zhouluo uncomfortable, leaving him no chance to compose himself or prepare in advance on the way. He could only steel himself and fly. After a while, he landed on the peak of Qingdu Mountain, where indeed people were everywhere.

"The Patriarch is here!"

Immediately, shouts erupted across the peak. The main hall at the highest point was already filled with people. The old man Chen Donghe stood to the side, while An Siwei in white robes stood with his head bowed. The remaining seated individuals were all elders, some cultivated, some not, and some so old they were frail, all occupying the seats of honor.

Li Zhouluo's gaze swept over them, and only a few stood out.

The first on the left was the True Person's direct son, the elder Li Cheng Zhi, so old he was slumped in his chair, appearing very frail. Standing beside him, powdered and rouged, was his fifth brother, Li Zhouming.

Below him was the elder Li Cheng, uncle to Li Zhoufang, the eldest and second brothers. He had just broken through to Qi Refinement, gaining a certain status within the family. He was still in his prime, with only greying hair, and was currently staring at Li Zhouluo.

On the other side were individuals of even higher seniority: the stern-faced Elder Li Xihui, dressed in grey robes, who was Li Cheng's father and now held a very high position in the clan. Slightly below him was the plump and fair-skinned Li Xihuan, father of Aunt Li Minggong...

'This matter has become serious...'

Among the older generation of elders, only these four had any real influence. Li Zhouluo sighed inwardly, relieved that Li Xuanxuan's expression remained calm, which reassured him. Amidst everyone's welcome, he took the main seat, only then noticing someone kneeling on the ground.

This person appeared to be the head of a small family from the Western Shore, surnamed He, related to He Jiumen from back then. He was likely the one leading the complaint, but he had no standing to speak here. Chen Donghe had already presented the written petition.

The first item on the petition alleged that Li Chengpan and others had privately accepted bribes, as high as 30%, when collecting spiritual rice and minerals.

This was not uncommon; such incidents occurred in various prefectures and peaks. The Jade Courtyard Guards were spread throughout Huzhou, primarily supervising collections at the end of each year. After a few instances of being caught, these individuals would secretly collect during the year, at most one or one and a half percent, not as brazenly as Li Chengpan.

"It's also because the Western Shore has no backing... they're simply left to be exploited."

Li Zhouluo skimmed past it; the next accusation was far more serious: the He family accused Ren Ting of bullying men and women, abusing his authority, and forcing a He family woman to become his concubine.

The final accusation stated that the various mineral veins on the Western Shore were intertwined and complex, making them difficult to audit. There were often newly shifting branch veins, sometimes changing monthly. An Xuanxin and others had colluded, misappropriating some of these minerals... These items were dug by people sent from the Eastern Shore, and someone with intent had recorded it.

After reading, he put down the letter in his hand, feeling uncertain. 'These four people... their entanglements are too deep...'

Before he could speak, the plump and fair-skinned Li Xihuan whispered, "Patriarch! The Jade Courtyard has already investigated the matter concerning Ren Ting. The He family girl was sent by himself, and now he's turning around and making accusations... The marriage contracts and letters have been retrieved, and that person's fawning expression is still visible on them. They can be brought out for a confrontation!"

Li Zhouluo looked at the stack of letters presented to him and remained silent for a moment. The Ren clan belonged to the Lijing faction and was also part of the Bo branch. Li Xihuan's wife, Li Minggong's mother, was surnamed Ren, and Ren Ting was Li Minggong's biological uncle...

The remaining people did not speak, clearly confident in their own positions and waiting for him to finish dealing with the letter. Li Zhouluo could only steel himself and ask the kneeling He family head. The old man only lamented, "With immortals above and officials below, at just a glance, what other path is there but to flatter them?"

Li Zhouluo was stumped by his words. Li Cheng Zhi, standing nearby, hesitated twice, and his fifth brother, Li Zhouming, chuckled, "Patriarch, there's also something suspicious about An Xuanxin's mineral veins. All records have been retrieved from Yuting, and these minerals have been sent to the island."

Li Zhouluo finally found an opportunity to interject, frowning, "Why weren't they sent to the island's interior?"

Li Zhouming hastily explained, "At the time, we were in the midst of a great battle with the Duxian Dao, and there was no reply from the island for several days. The mineral vein was about to shift and disappear, and An Xuanxin feared wasting it. After extraction, another letter was sent, and the family had reviewed it at the time."

Li Zhouluo had indeed reviewed such reports, but these types of reports came in every year. Small, unrecorded branch veins were reported as whatever amount, making verification impossible. Before he could respond, a displeased Li Cheng spoke up, saying, "Li Chengpan was personally trained by me! Who in the family doesn't know his character? It's impossible for him to do such things!"

This was the uncle of Li Zhoufang, the eldest and second brothers. Li Zhouluo was already somewhat numb and replied, "Everything requires evidence. How can it be dismissed with a mere 'impossible'?"

Among everyone present, only Li Cheng's father, the grey-robed Elder Li Xihui, remained silent.

Now that the other brothers had finished speaking, they all looked towards the old man's face. Li Xihui coughed lightly and said in a low voice, "Please, Patriarch, be discerning."

The group of clan elders all stared at him. Li Zhouluo held the letter, examining it, his heart burning with irritation. 'Father is already in seclusion; otherwise, I would get the talisman brush and make these people prove themselves!'

Li Cheng Zhi and Li Zhouming, being of Zifu bloodline, naturally couldn't be easily investigated. Li Xihuan would probably also be difficult. But there was no need to investigate them, nor did Li Zhouluo need to dwell on the words of these elders. He simply commanded, "Bring the four individuals forward."

From a distance below, a faint "Yes" was heard. The four individuals entered the hall and knelt one by one. Li Chengpan knelt at the very front; he was Li Zhouluo's clan uncle, with a proper appearance, and kept his head down without speaking.

Among the three who followed, An Xuanxin was of the most distinguished status. The young man responded fluently, seemingly having reported every single mineral vein, even able to recall the precise date.

Li Zhouluo asked a couple of questions, but the four either remained silent or vehemently denied everything. The atmosphere in the hall finally became awkward. The elders were all quiet, listening intently as Li Zhouluo interrogated.

Li Zhouming, who had initially been idly looking around as if watching a play, now seemed to awaken from a dream, sensing the wrong atmosphere. He straightened his posture, scrutinized the expressions of everyone present, and mumbled to himself, "Isn't this just making things difficult for Fourth Brother... What are these elders stirring up..."