Chapter 85: Avoiding Death and Prolonging Life

Li Tongya dragged the river crocodile all the way back to Lijing Village, where village guards naturally gathered to take over. Preparations for the Li family's ancestral worship had begun months ago; numerous ritual artifacts were already prepared, and most of the preparatory procedures were complete. All that remained was for the main branches of the Li family to give the order.

“The tribute of the state capital is ready for the sacrifice.”

All the main and minor branches of the Li family were present. The main branches stood on the circular altar for the ritual, the minor branches stood below the platform, and the collateral lines knelt in a circle around them.

On the first tier of the platform before the altar stood Li Xiangping, the current head of the Li family. Behind him, a step back, was Li Tongya. Including Li Chijin, who was far away in the Southern Border, these three represented the second generation of key figures in the Li family.

On the tier below them, at the very front, was Li Xuanxuan, who served as the clan elder. Behind him were Li Xuanfeng and Li Xuanling.

The first dozen or so procedures were complex and lengthy. It wasn't until Li Xiangping inserted the incense into the altar and recited the sacrificial incantation to commune with the magical mirror that Lu Jiangxian slowly awakened.

“Now, the Li Clan of Lijing, reverently presents pure wine, various delicacies, and cold-food sacrifices. Year after year, our incense continues without cease. Dwelling in the northern range of Lishan, we sow in spring and harvest in autumn, driving away insect plagues. Summer wheat ripens abundantly; we slay demons to stop snow, eliminate harm, and equalize fields. Through the Three Primaries and Six Festivals, we show no disrespect. During sacrificial times and feast days, our worship remains unbroken. With smoke we offer worship, with blood we offer tribute, serving the gods to invite blessings.”

After speaking, Li Xiangping stepped forward. The ritual blade in his hand plunged directly into the brain of the river crocodile at the center of the circular altar. The demonic creature was already on its last breath, its limbs and meridians locked by the true essence of the rivers. It died instantly.

Guided by Lu Jiangxian's divine consciousness, streams of vital energy gathered from the river crocodile's body. They converged with its dissipating soul and erupted from the wound created by the ritual blade, appearing like a pillar of smoke formed from primal energy.

In a world imperceptible to those present, wisps of faint golden mist flowed out from each person below the altar. Like swallows returning to their nests, they converged into the pillar of smoke, imbuing it with a subtle golden hue.

The smoke ascended for a few breaths. It then dispersed into countless tiny gray specks, invisible to the naked eye, which drifted towards Lijing Mountain.

Lu Jiangxian gathered all the energies and, following the proper method, condensed them into a gray talisman. Just as he was about to bestow it, a strong sense of attraction inexplicably arose. It sought to establish a connection with him across countless mountains and rivers.

The old Daoist's jade pendant flashed through his mind. Startled, Lu Jiangxian quickly reined in his aura, severed the connection, and even withdrew his divine consciousness back into the mirror.

That presence slowly descended, lingered for a while, and then reluctantly retreated.

****

**Gold Feather Sect**

The Gold Feather Sect was one of the three major sects in Yue Kingdom, alongside the Green Pond Sect and the Xiuyue Sect. Its disciples were mostly skilled in wielding artifacts. The sect's main peak was called Gold Feather Peak, where a radiant talisman hung. Legend had it that the talisman sealed six strands of solar essence, specifically to suppress demonic entities.

At the highest point of Gold Feather Peak was a cave dwelling. Purple Mansion cultivators frequently entered seclusion there, and brilliant purple smoke often wafted out. Thus, the disciples all referred to it as Purple Smoke Cave.

However, at this moment, Purple Smoke Cave was in disarray. Three Purple Mansion cultivators, possessing the air of immortals, each held a dark iron chain. They were desperately trying to secure a transparent, quail-egg-sized fragment within the cave. The floor was littered with overturned artifact furnaces and fragments of magical tools, emitting a faint glow.

“Why is this mirror shard rioting without reason?!”

The translucent fragment crashed against the magical array several times. The Purple Mansion cultivator's face darkened, and he cursed under his breath, “It seems we won't be able to gather enough Profound Clarity Qi this time.”

“Could it be that the Immortal Mirror has appeared?!”

Another Purple Mansion cultivator murmured, “How could that be? Our cultivators from the Three Sects and Seven Clans have been patrolling the entire Yue Kingdom with their artifacts, but there’s no trace whatsoever. Could it have drifted beyond Yue Kingdom?”

“What does the Green Pond Sect say about this?”

As soon as that cultivator asked, the first Purple Mansion cultivator cursed, “The entire sect is busy trying to extend Chi Wei's life, desperately seeking spiritual medicines everywhere! They have no time to deal with this!”

“Never mind, never mind,” the questioning cultivator said, shaking his head with a crestfallen expression. “Though Chi Wei is a scoundrel, he was once an extraordinary genius after all...”

“Bah!” The short-tempered Purple Mansion cultivator spat fiercely. He exclaimed, “I only wish he would die quickly, and good riddance! Scoundrel!”

The other man chuckled, jesting, “Junior Brother, how clean have our own actions in the Gold Feather Sect been? There's no need to be so harsh on him.”

The short-tempered cultivator immediately fell silent. After a long pause, he slowly sighed.

****

“Strengthen cultivation, enhance the six senses, improve innate bone structure, refine talent, elevate appearance, mend deficiencies... what a truly potent talisman energy!”

The gray talisman flew from the mirror's surface. Guided by Lu Jiangxian's divine consciousness, it landed on Li Xiangping. The gray talisman circled once and then flew into his Ascendant Yang Palace.

Lu Jiangxian's vision blurred, and several large lines of characters appeared before him. At the top, outlined in deep red strokes, was a fierce and ominous presence:

“Might of a Thousand Jun.”

In the middle, in pale gray strokes, twisting and turning like a long snake, was:

“Longevity and Extended Life.”

Finally, in clear, pale blue strokes, was:

“Averting Death and Extending Life.”

Lu Jiangxian immediately understood. This was for him to choose the power to be bestowed by the gray talisman. He fell into contemplation, considering that Li Xiangping was the clan head of the Li family. He therefore chose “Averting Death and Extending Life.”

This talisman energy could only bestow powers according to an individual's innate talent if they possessed the Profound Pearl Talisman Seed. Ordinary people could only enhance their cultivation and improve their innate bone structure.

Below, Li Xiangping's body trembled. His aura continuously surged upwards. His cultivation, which had only reached the fifth level of Embryonic Breathing the year before last, advanced another step, reaching the peak of Embryonic Breathing. A pale blue character suddenly appeared in his mind:

“Averting Death and Extending Life.”

Before he could react, Li Tongya looked over with concern. He waved his hand, signaling the end of the ritual. Li Xiangping closed his eyes and fell into deep thought.

Once everyone had dispersed, Li Xiangping came back to his senses. He looked at Li Tongya and whispered, “Let's talk on the mountain.”

The two quickly ascended the mountain. Li Tongya's spiritual sense swept over Li Xiangping, and he immediately noticed that Li Xiangping's cultivation had already reached the peak of Embryonic Breathing. He whispered, “Was it the talisman energy?”

Li Xiangping nodded and recounted everything he had seen and experienced to Li Tongya. Both were pleasantly surprised. However, they then heard a report from a clan soldier: more Shan Yue nomads were fleeing east.

In recent years, as Gani Xi advanced eastward, many tribes were defeated. Consequently, more Shan Yue nomads, ranging from dozens to hundreds, fled to the east. Li Xiangping had no choice but to station clan soldiers west of Lijiangkou. He usually took command there himself to prevent the roaming Shan Yue from attacking the village.

“What's the situation?” Li Xiangping asked.

The clan soldier replied, “Reportedly, several hundred people are currently attacking our military formation.”

Over the years, the population under the Li family's governance had reached over fifteen thousand. Of these, two thousand were Shan Yue nomads who had settled there. The number of clan soldiers had also reached one thousand, which was quite substantial.

“Let's go to Lijiangkou,” Li Xiangping said. He nodded and exchanged a glance with Li Tongya before hurrying down the mountain.