In the next moment, the Da Sheng Halberd appeared in his hand in a stream of light. Gripping it firmly, Li Zhouwei said coldly, "Who goes there?!"
Li Minggong did not sense it at first and only summoned her flames half a beat later. Without a perception technique, she merely stepped back half a pace and cloaked herself in fire to avoid injury.
A flicker of gray light and a wisp of black qi appeared, revealing a man before the hall. His brows were slightly arched, and his eyes gray-black, but he was smiling. His features were plain and unremarkable. He wore a brown robe and a sword hung at his waist.
It was only when he fully revealed himself that he waved his hand hurriedly and laughed. "It has been many years, and Minghuang’s spells have only grown stronger!"
"Younger brother!" Li Minggong laughed in delight, dispelling her flames. She hurried forward joyfully and said, "So it was you who emerged from seclusion! Why was there no phenomenon?"
It was none other than Li Chenghuai!
Li Zhouwei’s expression also eased, his sternness fading. The Da Sheng Halberd in his hand vanished as he cupped his hands in apology.
Li Chenghuai, full of vigor, only laughed and said, "Elder sister! You forget that I cultivate the Supreme Shaman art, the Untraceable Presence. This Immortal Foundation conceals the body and hides the breath. Spiritual sense cannot detect it, vision leaves no trace, and only talismans can tell true from false. How could there be any phenomenon?"
He paused slightly, studying their faces, then said with a smile, "Judging from your complexions, the family must have stabilized?"
Li Chenghuai had entered seclusion late, at a time when the Li Family was struggling and Li Zhouwei had repeatedly fled from Floating Cloud Cave. Concern had weighed heavily on his heart, so he had come straight to the main hall upon leaving seclusion.
To his surprise, Li Minggong covered her mouth and laughed softly, "Younger brother, our uncle has already reached Purple Mansion Realm!"
"Oh..." Li Chenghuai froze, his face flushing red. He stared straight ahead for several seconds before speaking, "What?"
Li Minggong said, "Just a few days ago, all the families came to congratulate us. Several Purple Mansion Realm cultivators personally attended the gathering. It was a grand event. If you had emerged a few days earlier, you would have witnessed it!"
Li Chenghuai could not believe it. It was as though he were in a dream. He muttered softly, "Then our family... is now a Purple Mansion immortal family?"
"Exactly so!" Li Zhouwei confirmed it, and Li Chenghuai could no longer contain himself.
He burst into loud laughter and exclaimed joyfully, "You had better not be teasing me. What of Floating Cloud Cave?"
"Floating Cloud Cave has long since been destroyed!" Li Minggong recounted everything from beginning to end.
Li Chenghuai could not suppress the smile tugging at his lips. He let out a long breath and said, "I often worried about the family during seclusion. It took nearly a year of recuperation before I could break through. At first, every step was difficult, and I grew weaker by the day. Thankfully, with the aid of the Essence Gathering Pill, I barely managed to hold on.
"There was still much work ahead, and whether I could break through remained uncertain. But then, the world’s spiritual energy suddenly shifted, and countless wondrous insights surfaced in my mind. It felt as though the gods themselves aided me, and I broke through in one stroke!"
"So that was it!" Li Zhouwei and Li Minggong exchanged glances and immediately understood, It must have been caused by the transformation of Jiangnan’s spiritual energy. Such a chance might not appear once in decades... truly a wondrous destiny!
Li Minggong sighed with emotion, and Li Zhouwei also spoke with deep feeling, "In the Dao of cultivation, destiny and fortune must never be underestimated!"
Li Zhouwei sighed once more, then his expression softened into a smile as he said, "Since uncle has successfully broken through, it is naturally a great joy for the family. Aunt Minggong, you no longer need to remain here to guard the household. It is time to head to Jiangbei. But first, uncle should pay respects to the elders, report this joyous news, and take charge of the Qingdu matters."
"That is only proper." Li Chenghuai nodded thoughtfully, then immediately excused himself to pay respects to Li Xuanxuan.
Meanwhile, Li Zhouwei took out letter paper and began writing with bold strokes, We must also send a letter to the family, so the elders may know of this great joy.
Li Minggong waited at his side until an old man approached. His head was bare and his beard completely white, yet his frame remained robust. An Zheyan was now nearing one hundred and seventy years of age. He had grown gentle in his old age.
Bowing, he said, "Family head, I have a report from Zhijing Mountain. The Daoist Master has already left with Ding Weizeng, their whereabouts unknown."
An Zheyan was one of the most senior retainers of the Li Family. Li Zhouwei nodded to him, then turned toward Li Minggong. "Aunt, let us first make a trip to Jiangbei."
————
"Great-grandfather... there is no need to see me off..."
When Li Chenghuai walked out of the hall, Li Xuanxuan was still cheerfully holding his hand, escorting him all the way to the front. The elder’s face was flushed and youthful again, having witnessed so many joyous events one after another. He refused to let go of Chenghuai’s hand.
"Huai’er... your father was always the most sensible among the four brothers... Now that you have reached the Foundation Establishment Realm, he must be overjoyed..." Li Xuanxuan could not stop murmuring, while Li Chenghuai listened silently. Then the old man pulled him aside, drew a brocade box from his robe, and spoke softly, "Huai’er, when Ximing attained his divine ability, your parents came back to visit. Xiao’er also paid his respects to me. Only you were still in seclusion and missed it, so they met only with Zhouluo... they spoke warmly and left him many spirit items.
"Your father left an artifact with me, the Upper Feather Night Robe. Supreme Shaman dharma artifacts are far too rare. He searched for years to obtain it. He said if you succeeded in breaking through, it was to be yours; if not, it would go to Zhouluo."
Li Chenghuai cast a sidelong glance at it and exhaled. Li Xuanxuan continued, "Your mother also came quietly and left something for you. It’s a Night Ghost Secret Talisman, a treasured heirloom of the Yang Family. I do not know its use, but I kept it for you..."
Both items were inside the brocade box. Li Chenghuai accepted it in silence, while Li Xuanxuan looked on with heartache and said, "Your father could hardly protect himself these past years and seldom spoke of such things. Your mother, being of the Yang family’s direct line, had many constraints in her actions. Do not blame them. Now that Ximing has broken through and is also the master of the Jiutian Pavilion, he finally has the chance to provide for you, though it is not easy for him to say it outright."
Li Chenghuai shook his head and said, "I, Chenghuai, never cultivated for the sake of such dharma artifacts."
Li Xuanxuan only patted his shoulder with a smile and replied, “There is nothing that cannot be spoken between father and son. Look at me, I lost my father at birth, my mother in my youth, and my son in middle age. Now in old age, I guard the tombs of my descendants. Even your Uncle Ximing, though he reached the Purple Mansion Realm, still carries such regrets... cherish what you have.
"Now you and your father[1] are both at Foundation Establishment Realm. Ordinary people could only dream of such fortune. First, go and see to the affairs of Qingdu. After some time, make a trip to the Azure Pond Sect."
Li Chenghuai tucked the brocade box into his sleeve, gave a strained farewell, composed himself, and quietly rode the wind across the lake.
He recalled the words of Li Xuanxuan and Li Zhouwei, a faint tension rising in his heart, Best to check on the Qingdu matters first... It seems Zhouluo has not managed them well...
Not daring to be careless, he immediately turned toward Qingdu. Once he passed through the formation, he saw the flickering of lamps in the hall from afar, and faintly heard the sounds of ink grinding and pages turning.
Li Chenghuai knocked softly on the door. From inside, a clear voice called, "Is that my younger clansman? Please, come in!"
1. Li Chenghuai’s father is Li Xizhi. ☜