On Lijing Mountain, Li Xuanxuan stood before a scene of chaos. Behind him trailed Li Xiewen, the eldest son of Li Yesheng.
Li Xiewen had been recalled by Li Xiangping these past few years and stayed at Li Xuanxuan's side, helping to manage clan affairs. Now that Li Yesheng had followed Li Xiangping westward, it fell to him to take over his father's duties.
Shaking his head, Li Xuanxuan asked with a furrowed brow:
"Still no word on Jingtian or Xuanling?"
"Reporting to the Young Patriarch — we have sent men through all the surrounding forests and mountains. Neither has been found."
Li Xuanxuan's heart clenched. He surveyed the disarray of the courtyard, righted a toppled wooden stool, and sank onto it in dejection.
"Young Patriarch… the Mountain Yue swept away every able-bodied youth in Lijing Town. Few were actually killed — it was mostly several hundred village militiamen who were injured in the struggle. But Lichuan Gap suffered real casualties. Even the Chen family's eldest son died at the Mountain Yue's hands."
Li Xuanxuan nodded grimly, and a few words escaped his lips:
"No matter. The losses are manageable."
The children of Lijing Village had long since been tested for spiritual apertures. The few aperture-bearing children found over the years were all disciples of other surnames, and they had remained at Li Xuanxuan's side the entire time — none had been lost.
"As long as Chen Donghe lives, it matters not who else in the Chen family falls."
"Go tell the others: any men who wish to reclaim their children and take vengeance on the Mountain Yue may register below the mountain. We shall form another unit."
"Young Patriarch, that's—"
Li Xuanxuan shook his head and said gently:
"The Patriarch took the clan soldiers with him. We must reassemble a unit to maintain order among the villages. This is merely an excuse. With the Mountain Yue growing bolder by the day, I won't do anything foolish."
Watching Li Xiewen bow and depart with the order, Li Xuanxuan hurried to the back courtyard. He pushed open the door of the small room, and froze at the sight of the toppled desk and the bare stone shelf.
"Damn it."
Grief and fury surged through Li Xuanxuan at once. After a few breaths they collapsed into a helpless sigh. His gaze fell on the broken wooden chair in the corner — the same chair Li Mutian had sat in every year — and he slumped into it, staring vacantly at the empty stone shelf.
Then the door creaked open. It was Li Tongya, returned to Lijing Mountain, dust-covered, who stepped inside. He looked down at the scattered objects on the floor and said nothing.
Li Xuanxuan rose at once and asked respectfully:
"Second Uncle — have you found any news of the Patriarch?"
Li Tongya shook his head. He pinched a Robe-Cleansing Art to dust off the grime from his clothes, and explained:
"I ventured two hours into Mountain Yue territory. Found no trace and was forced to withdraw. I did notice they've set up a fortified camp to the west, garrisoned by four Qi Refining cultivators."
Seeing Li Xuanxuan's downcast expression and his gaze drifting toward the bare stone shelf, Li Tongya was not alarmed — rather, he smiled.
"No need for panic. If I can't find them, the Mountain Yue's Qi Refining men can't either. Xiangping's safety is not in immediate danger."
"Besides, Xuanling is clever. He already took the magic mirror with him."
Gently setting the desk upright, Li Tongya explained at leisure:
"Ganixo's surprise raid on Lijing Mountain — had he captured Xuanling and Jingtian, he would have sent messengers at once to ransom them and bleed us dry. The fact that there has been nothing suggests that when Xuanling sensed the danger, he took the mirror and fled the mountain before Ganixo even reached the summit."
Li Xuanxuan nodded thoughtfully:
"So Xuanling detected something wrong, took the magic mirror, and descended — only to be caught up in the westward rout?"
Li Tongya arranged the ritual offerings on the table and replied:
"I will find another opportunity to probe their defenses. You must keep the people's spirits steady here, and take stock of the spirit fields that were raided. Chen Donghe and Li Qiuyang have both gone west with the army — the spirit fields need to be managed."
"Understood. Be careful, Second Uncle."
Li Xuanxuan said worriedly, but Li Tongya waved him off with a smile:
"These Mountain Yue are nothing but a rabble, relying on numbers alone. They swallow miscellaneous impure qi — nothing proper. I have already cultivated the Dark Water Sword Aura. Without three or five of them working together, they cannot hold me. No need for concern! If your Third Uncle Li Chijing were here, five of them together wouldn't survive a single sword strike."
With that, he stepped lightly and departed westward. Li Xuanxuan exhaled a long breath and settled back into the broken wooden chair. The joy of a loss reversed tugged at the corner of his mouth — until he noticed eight characters scrawled crookedly on one of the chair legs.
"May your home be harmonious, may your line flourish and prosper."
In his mind's eye, the image of an old man surfaced — one who had been trapped on the mountain for half his life over a mere rumor of Foundation Establishment. Li Xuanxuan wiped the corner of his eye and stepped out, expression resolute.
No sooner had he left than he nearly collided with Li Xuanfeng, who was carrying the black longbow on his back. Seeing his hurried look, Li Xuanxuan called out:
"Xuanfeng!"
Li Xuanfeng raised his head and listened as Li Xuanxuan relayed Li Tongya's words. Only then did he relax slightly, though worry still lingered in his eyes. He said quietly:
"Father is alone leading troops in Mountain Yue territory. I can't help but worry."
"Don't you dare do anything foolish!"
Li Xuanxuan instantly bristled, alarm bells ringing. Li Tongya had only just gone to rescue Xuanling and Jingtian — the last thing they needed was for Li Xuanfeng to charge in after him. He hurried to speak:
"The Patriarch knows what he's doing. Don't think about going into Mountain Yue to find him! You'd only tie everyone's hands…"
"I know."
Li Xuanfeng waved his hand, and said through gritted teeth:
"It's simply a matter of not being strong enough. If I had Qi Refining cultivation — who cares about the Mountain Yue, who cares about Ganixo — it would all be over with a single arrow!"
"Forget it!"
Li Xuanfeng clenched his jaw and waved dismissively, fury in his voice:
"I'm going into seclusion to break through to the fifth layer — the Jade Capital Wheel!"
This declaration left Li Xuanxuan momentarily speechless. He thought to himself:
"Breaking through isn't something you can just decide to do whenever you want… isn't it supposed to require some sort of catalyst…?"
Li Xuanxuan had been stuck at the fourth layer, the Azure Origin Wheel, for over two years, unable to find the trigger for breakthrough. He sighed inwardly, then drew a jade bottle from his robe and said gently:
"This Snake Origin Pill was left behind by Senior Xiao when he was refining medicine for our family. There were three in total — our two elders each used one when breaking through to the Jade Capital Wheel. This last one I have kept on hand for the breakthrough. Take it."
He sighed again, and said mournfully:
"It's a pity our family has no alchemy inheritance. The Three Snake-Dragon Fruits we preserved over the years still cannot be put to use…"
Li Xuanfeng accepted the jade bottle with thanks and said with a smile:
"Young Patriarch, don't worry. Our family has only been on the path of cultivation for thirty-some years. Naturally we cannot compare with those ancient families with deep foundations."
"When we have more Qi Refining cultivators, we find a rogue cultivator with alchemy inheritance — kill him and take it."
Li Xuanxuan shook his head at this and said with a wry smile:
"You boy — always so bloodthirsty. These inheritances aren't something you can simply seize by killing. We must accumulate spirit stones and purchase them."
Li Xuanfeng curled his lip:
"As long as we are far stronger than the other party, whether we take by force or buy — isn't that our choice to make?"
With a low laugh, he headed for the Meichi Mountain cave dwelling to begin his seclusion.