Chapter 795: South Sea Visitor

Li Zhouluo sat in the hall. After spending the early morning putting on a convincing show with Li Zhoufang, "pleading" to Li Xuanxuan, he finally had time to attend to clan affairs. He set his pen aside and began to ponder.

"Phoenix Tail Stone is extremely rare in the areas north of Yuebei... Its main production sites are all within Green Pond territory... I should write a letter to Green Pond to inquire. Grandfather seems to have a disciple on duty at the market; it would be best to ask him for help."

"The Violet-Root Wide-Valley Mountain-Penetrating Nail is a valuable Purple Mansion formation core. Even with Wangyue's wealth, the abundance of our accumulated minerals, and the addition of spiritual materials from Xuanyue, the remaining expenses still amount to around 1,500 spirit stones."

The Li family's spirit stone reserves were only about 600, but Li Zhouluo wasn't worried about a shortage. More importantly, forging this item wasn't just about having enough spirit stones; it required large-scale procurement of spiritual materials. Some were scarce, others were in high demand, making it impossible to spend the spirit stones even if they had them.

"The price of spiritual energy within the clan is also being driven higher and higher... Several clan members have come to report... Cultivators from humble backgrounds can no longer afford it, relying only on the few portions distributed to geniuses by the Prefecture each year..."

This was a common issue. The fact that spiritual energy for cultivation in Jiangnan could be inflated to twenty or thirty spirit stones per portion was due to its scarcity. The Li family's rise had given Wangyue Lake significant organizational ability to collect spiritual energy, but the vast number of Embryonic Breath cultivators it also brought did not alleviate the shortage of Minor Clear spiritual energy; instead, it indirectly intensified the demand for it.

What's more interesting is that without cultivation techniques, this basic spiritual energy would be useless. The Li family's rise also brought an unexpected change: as more cultivators practiced the Clear River Qi, the Clear River Qi, which was rarely heard of a hundred years ago and worthless on the market, gradually gained value.

The Li clan, which controlled all of Wangyue Lake, could produce a considerable amount of Clear River Qi annually. Setting aside the exorbitant profit of sixty spirit stones from Green Pond's Qi-Gathering Peak, the price of this item once rose to over thirty spirit stones. Without this Clear River Qi, at least half of all external cultivators would have to leave.

"There are also snow-capped mountains on the North Bank, close to the great river. In the future, we'll need to station people permanently on the river, where the Clear River Qi is even more abundant than in Wangyue Lake... It would be best if we could also find a 'Water Palace Qi-Gathering Art' suitable for use on the lake."

As he pondered and began writing the letter, Di Liguang came to report. Hearing that his two capable subordinates, Ding Weizeng and Wang Quwan, were the ones reporting, he was startled and immediately ordered them to be welcomed in.

"Greetings, Patriarch!"

Ding Weizeng bowed first and explained Wang Quwan's situation. Li Zhouluo found it quite strange that the token had only been delivered to Di Liguang, and he asked the Yue mountain person to inspect it carefully.

Li Zhouluo put down his pen and asked suspiciously:

"The Wanling High Sect is indeed an extraordinary Daoist lineage. As for some 'underground palace'... I don't think it's a good place. So many immortal and Buddhist cultivators died in Jiangbei, battling so fiercely that the earth shook. How could it not have been discovered then? If it truly reappeared, why didn't it manifest when blood energy was rampant, spiritual energy was immense, eighteen Buddhist masters fell, and the riverbanks were stained pink? Why wait until today, when spiritual energy has gradually settled and faded, to reappear?"

Li Zhouluo, with his much higher background, knew almost ninety percent of the truth behind the North-South conflict and understood the true patterns of relic manifestation. He immediately felt suspicious. Unwilling to let the two Foundation Establishment cultivators remain bowing, he rose from his seat, helped them up, and said softly:

"With the True Person currently away and elders in secluded cultivation, there might be something amiss with this item."

Wang Quwan was intelligent and understood a different meaning from his words. He replied:

"Thank you for your guidance, Patriarch. This token was an accidental war trophy of mine. I've brought it to surrender to the clan; please have the clan elders examine it and make a decision."

Li Zhouluo frowned and shook his head. With his own Purple Mansion cultivators away, he always adhered to the principle of "better safe than sorry." Even Purple Mansion spiritual artifacts in an underground palace couldn't entice him now. He replied:

"The item is still yours. Keep it safe for now and observe how things unfold. I will report this to the clan elders and summon you when there's news."

Di Liguang had already handed the token back. Wang Quwan was slightly taken aback and was about to speak, but Ding Weizeng quickly took it for him. Li Zhouluo then turned and said:

"The Wang clan of Jiangbei is subordinate to many families and has had a difficult time over the years. Wang He of the Metropolitan Immortal Dao is also a leader of your Wang family. Have there been any troublesome actions?"

Wang Quwan quickly bowed and replied:

"Reporting to the Patriarch, Uncle Wang He has frequently sent people to visit and even provided many spiritual resources over the years, but my younger brother declined them. All these matters have been reported to the clan..."

Li Jianglong reported monthly, so Li Zhouluo naturally knew all of this. However, as the matter was important, he couldn't help but be cautious and inquire further. He shook his head and said:

"Although Wang He is much older and has a higher cultivation level than you, his talent is truly lacking. In the Metropolitan Immortal Dao, he's a nobody, incomparable to you. Naturally, he tries to please in every matter."

Wang Quwan bowed low. Seeing Ding Weizeng nod beside him, he respectfully said:

"Reporting to the Patriarch, the loyalty of the Funan Wang clan is evident!"

"I know! The Dense Forest Palace is now back in operation. The Wang clan can send two disciples in. With Quwan's temperament, your disciples certainly won't be bad; they are bound to achieve great things."

As both had their own important matters, they soon withdrew. Li Zhouluo pondered writing a letter to Li Xizhi's people and decided to include this matter as well. He was incredibly busy, constantly on the go. Once the letter was sent, the morning's arrangements were nearly complete, and he was eager to release Li Xixuan.

Li Zhoufang was already waiting outside the hall. The man was clearly impatient. Upon seeing Li Zhouluo, he quickly followed him. Li Zhouluo nodded gravely and replied:

"Since the Elder agreed, let's go invite the elder out."

"Thank you, Patriarch!"

Li Zhoufang nodded repeatedly and only replied:

"Only with the Patriarch personally interceding... could the Elder be persuaded. No matter what, Uncle Xixuan is Aunt Minggong's father; how could we keep him confined in the ancestral hall? If he were to despair... and something untoward happened, what would the clan do then?"

Both Li Zhouluo and Li Zhoufang were Qi Refining cultivators, so they covered the short distance in a flash. Li Zhouluo unfastened the magical artifact from his waist, handed it to a nearby Green Reed cultivator, took off his shoes, and entered the hall. There, he saw the plump Li Xixuan, dressed in simple robes, reading at a desk.

Seeing the two enter, Li Xixuan greeted Patriarch Li Zhouluo briefly, then immediately sat back down.

"Congratulations, Uncle! The Patriarch painstakingly pleaded with the Elder, and finally, you're released..."

"Oh..."

Li Zhoufang, beaming with joy, invited him to leave, but the old man seemed weary and listless.

The act put on by Li Xuanxuan and Li Zhouluo could deceive ninety percent of people, but it couldn't fool clan elders like Li Xixuan and Li Cheng'er. Li Xixuan immediately realized that the old man and the young man were acting in concert, and that his own grandson had truly become an outsider. He sat by the desk, looking despondent.

The old man was being uncooperative, and Li Zhoufang could only fret anxiously. With both sides so stubborn, he, as the elder brother, felt caught between a rock and a hard place. Li Zhouluo smiled and said:

"Elder Brother, please wait a moment. I'd like to have a private word with Uncle."

Li Zhoufang immediately withdrew. Li Xixuan leaned listlessly against the desk, but then saw the young man in front of him personally prepare tea for him, and said softly:

"Uncle, you have nineteen nephews and nieces and over a hundred grandchildren in your courtyard. Your Yuanwan branch only has this one residence in the Prefecture. You've been struggling amidst these hundreds of people, and the Elder has taken notice..."

At the mention of this, Li Xixuan's spirits suddenly lifted, and he shook his head gravely:

"Do you who sit in the halls also know hardship...? My children lack spiritual apertures. If they were to split off, they'd become minor branches. One moment they're immortal descendants, the next they're packing their bags to make a living by the shore. If I divided them like that, would they not resent me? Resent the clan?"

He sighed softly:

"I dare not divide them... If not divided, over a hundred people are crammed into one residence. Relatives are useless when far away, merciless when too close. Only when they are neither too far nor too close, vaguely present, is it comfortable. Right now, there's friction in the east and bickering in the west; does that not hurt feelings? What can I do? My old body won't last more than two years. Once I die, those below will surely split the family. A few direct lines will be comfortable, but those who are separated will begin to resent. Is this not a sign of decline?"

"For now, keeping them confined in the courtyard, letting them resent each other, is better than having them unite to resent the Prefecture after they split. I can understand you, but you cannot understand me. Perhaps it's the difference between immortals and mortals..."

Li Zhouluo remained silent. He had heard bits about the situation Li Xixuan described. He poured the old man a cup of tea and simply replied:

"The Prefecture's patronage has been decided. There are quite a few spots, and Green Reed and Jade Court will conduct the assessments together, with my final decision."

Li Xixuan's eyes suddenly opened wide and round. His demeanor abruptly changed, his back straightened, and he eagerly said:

"Does the Patriarch mean..."

Li Zhouluo whispered:

"The assessment content will mostly revolve around what Green Reed usually oversees. It was originally to be announced in about a month... There are quite a few clan members in the Prefecture who are diligent in their studies and often praised by Green Reed. Uncle, you should prepare early."

Li Xixuan was an astute old man; his face instantly brightened, and he nodded repeatedly, replying:

"I understand... I understand... May I ask about the ranking of these positions and their number?"

Li Zhouluo smiled, shook his head, and stood up. Li Xixuan sprang to his feet, his eyes reddened, and he repeatedly said:

"Thank you, Patriarch... Thank you, Patriarch, for pleading with the Elder... The Yuanwan lineage has many good children; we're relying on this to save them..."

Li Zhouluo didn't seem like someone with such grand courage. Li Xixuan, of course, knew that this "patronage" was most likely orchestrated by his own grandfather. However, since the final decision lay with Li Zhouluo, Li Xixuan was willing to take the hint and step down. He hurriedly lifted his robes and followed out, only to see Li Zhoufang's surprised face.

"Patriarch!"

Seeing Li Zhouluo had already left, Li Xixuan quickly grabbed Li Zhoufang and said:

"Quick, Elder Brother, take me back to the Prefecture!"

"Oh, oh, oh."

Li Zhoufang, feeling a bit lost, pulled him along and hurried towards the Prefecture. Li Xixuan slapped his thigh and whispered:

"I'll also need you to make a trip and call back all those scoundrels who've been loitering secretly around the Prefecture..."

While the two were still rushing towards the Prefecture, Li Zhouluo had already arrived at the front of the hall. Di Liguang, frantic like an ant on a hot pan, finally saw Li Zhouluo and immediately called out:

"Oh dear... Patriarch! Someone from Green Pond has arrived! They've been waiting in the side hall. You left so suddenly, I couldn't find you... I notified the Elder, who just arrived himself..."

Li Zhouluo quickly pushed open the door and entered the hall. Indeed, Li Xuanxuan was standing inside, looking anxious. Upon seeing Li Zhouluo, he immediately said:

"Quickly, invite them in!"

Li Zhouluo adjusted his clothes. He saw two people approaching quickly from outside the hall. The one leading wore silver-white attire with a grand red embroidered robe, possessing a round face and large eyes. The one following was handsome and tall, with fair skin and a sword at his waist.

A guard-like figure also accompanied them, dressed in a black robe, tall and thin, with a sinister and venomous appearance. It was Li Wushao, the Hooked Serpent, who had been at the late Foundation Establishment stage for a long time. He bowed to the two.

The red-robed youth leading the group bowed, his round face revealing a very handsome smile, and said:

"Quan Yudan of the Pavilion of Heavenly Research, greetings to the Patriarch!"

The youth behind him seemed quite curious, glancing around at the hall's furnishings, and followed with a bow, saying:

"Si Xunhui of the Pavilion of Heavenly Research, greetings to the Patriarch..."

"Please rise quickly..."

These were all disciples of Li Xizhi, so Li Zhouluo naturally felt a sense of closeness. He quickly helped them up and nodded, saying:

"Honored cultivators, resting at the lake, I wonder if this is a coincidence, or if Grandfather has given some instructions?"

When he uttered "Grandfather," Quan Yudan's gaze entirely changed. He quickly stepped back respectfully and said:

"So it's the Young Master! My third martial brother and I rushed over from the South Sea, unaware that the Young Master was managing the household..."

Quan Yudan had just thought Li Wushao's bow was directed at Li Xuanxuan, but now he realized it was for this Young Master, and he was greatly surprised and pleased. He nodded and said:

"The Young Master's cultivation has progressed so rapidly! Excellent, excellent... Truly worthy of such lineage..."

Si Xunhui, standing nearby, also raised an eyebrow, looking on with envy.

There weren't many families in Jiangnan that could make Si Xunhui envious. This was the first time Li Zhouluo had heard himself addressed this way, and he felt a bit uncomfortable. He raised an eyebrow and said:

"Grandfather... how is he doing now?"

When Li Xizhi was mentioned, Quan Yudan became visibly animated, smiling as he said:

"You might not know it here at the lake... but my master's reputation as 'Heavenly Pavilion's Radiant Glow' has now shaken the South Sea! From Lüfang to Tanjong Bulu, everyone knows his name. Let alone those demonic cultivators... even the patriarch of the Miao clan from Thunder Isle came to spar and couldn't defeat him. He was struck until his radiant glow overflowed; if my master hadn't intervened... that old man would have perished on the spot!"

"My master governed the nineteen islands of Green Pond and the South Sea, clearing the entire sea area of demonic cultivators. The methods of refining resentment, which the Linggu family couldn't eliminate for three generations, have almost been rooted out. Order has been greatly restored everywhere, and the market's reputation and resources have multiplied several times, recovering all the losses from previous years..."

Li Xuanxuan listened, smiling broadly. Si Xunhui was also deeply moved and softly added:

"Our True Person has also met Master and discussed cultivation arts with him, deeming him divine. He told us juniors... that Master's Radiant Glow cultivation has far surpassed that of Linggu Xia in his time, even exceeding the Daoist who adapted the 'Morning Glow Dew-Gathering Art'... He can be called the foremost practitioner of Radiant Glow arts in three hundred years!"

Li Zhouluo was greatly amazed. Li Xuanxuan, stroking his beard, sighed deeply and couldn't help but ask:

"Where was this said? Has it spread to the South Sea?"

Si Xunhui shook his head repeatedly and replied:

"I heard this privately and only told Master. It hasn't spread... Master told me to remember not to publicize it... but upon seeing the elder today, I couldn't help but share the good news."

"Excellent! Excellent!"

Li Xuanxuan's eyes were a little moist as he nodded and said:

"Zhi'er is truly remarkable... He's made it this far in the sect all by himself, no easier than his other brothers... Good... This is truly excellent..."