"Father!" Li Zhouluo had just lifted his head from the desk when he saw the man at the door. Shock and joy filled him. He quickly stepped down from the main seat to greet him, crying out in delight, "Father! You have come out of seclusion!"
Li Chenghuai nodded with a smile. Overjoyed, Li Zhouluo eagerly pulled him over to the main seat, his face flushed with excitement as he said, "Congratulations, Father! Congratulations, Father!"
Two blessings had come to Li Zhouluo at once, and he completely forgot his earlier worries, saying only, "Father, you have attained the Immortal Foundation! And it is fourth-grade besides... with Grandfather's Dharma robe left behind for you, you will surely soar like a great roc[1] straight into the heavens!"
Li Zhouluo well understood the tensions between his father and his grandfather. Yet after meeting Li Xizhi this time, he had been captivated by his grandfather's bearing. Not only did he feel pride in it, he even secretly took him as a model to follow, so he hastened to speak words of praise.
But Li Chenghuai was not distracted. He seized on his son's earlier words and asked, "A clansman? Which clansman?"
Li Zhouluo had no choice but to bow and answer, "It concerns Quewan... someone in the prefecture has accused her, saying her brother used his position to profit..."
"Bring it here, let me see."
Li Chenghuai took the letter from his hand. After only two glances, he saw both sides involved were merchant fleets. He flipped through the supporting documents Li Zhouluo had prepared, then laughed in anger and slapped them down on the desk with a resounding smack. "Utter nonsense! This is called profiteering by power? That is called profiteering by power? By that logic, we might as well lock every cultivator's family in the formation and raise them like pigs on two legs!"
Li Zhouluo had rarely seen his father so furious. He quickly replied, "Father... this matter isn't so simple. If I were to suppress it too easily, it would only serve as proof against her and end up harming Quewan instead..."
"Of course I know it's more than that!" Li Chenghuai sneered coldly, "What do they say behind our backs? That Quewan advanced by sheer luck, just because a great figure happened to pass by the island? Those jealous of her could line up around the lake twice over! Instead of cultivating properly, they only stir up trouble!"
Li Zhouluo dared not speak further, and Li Chenghuai only said, "Bring him in."
Li Zhouluo had no choice but to send someone to summon the cultivator who had lodged the complaint. Soon footsteps echoed from afar, and a middle-aged man in fine clothes entered.
On seeing Li Zhouluo, he bowed and said with a smile, "Greetings, my lord!"
But his father still sat silently behind him and said nothing. That falsely familiar tone made Li Zhouluo's back stiffen. He quickly stepped aside without a word.
The middle-aged man froze, only then noticing that Li Chenghuai was seated at the main seat. How could he fail to recognize him? A flash of horror passed through his heart, He's advanced to the Foundation Establishment Realm?
"Li Dongdi greets you... my lord!"
"So it is you..." Li Chenghuai narrowed his eyes, recognizing the man as a fairly close collateral relative. He spoke casually, "I heard that several of Li Quewan's brothers have been throwing their weight around. Is that true?"
Though Li Zhouluo was clever, he was still young and could not match Li Chenghuai's seasoned sharpness. Yet now, there was no room to retreat...
Li Dongdi understood well that at worst, sticking to his accusation would only earn him punishment. But showing weakness now would mean certain ruin. So he cried out miserably, "It is true!"
Li Zhouluo watched from the side and saw his father dip a finger in ink, moving it with near-invisible speed to inscribe a talisman upon the paper.
The moment Dongdi's words rang out, there was a muffled boom. The paper suddenly flared with dazzling fire and burned to ash.
Li Chenghuai said in a cold voice, "How dare you?!"
With a single step, he closed the distance and slapped the man across the face. Li Dongdi's head snapped back, blood and teeth spraying across the floor. Li Chenghuai backhanded him on the other cheek, sending him flying a great distance.
Li Zhouluo shuddered in fear, worried his father might kill the man, and cried out quickly, "Father... Father... careful, you'll hurt your hand!"
LI Dongdi tumbled across the floor several times before finally landing. It took him a long moment to recover, after which he grovelled on the ground, mumbling incoherently, "My lord... my lord... to mete out justice like this... what reason is there..."
"What reason?" Li Chenghuai flicked his sleeve and said casually, "There's no need to pretend anymore. My Immortal Foundation can discern truth from falsehood..."
He paused, then sneered, "You... and that pack of creatures skulking behind you... just wait for the calamity that's coming."
————
The Azure Pond Sect.
The cave residence at the summit of Mount Azure Pond faced east. Sunlight and moonlight gathered around it; white clouds drifted endlessly; and it was the place of densest spiritual qi across the mountain range. The white mist could condense into spirit water at any moment, forming dewdrops on the plants and trees.
Li Ximing waited a few seconds on the immortal peak before hearing a burst of laughter. An spirited and vigorous elder in blue robes appeared at the mountain gate, holding a golden talisman in his hand.
He laughed as he spoke, "I was wondering which honored guest had come, so it's Zhaojing!"
That Li Ximing's first visit outside the mountain was to him and not Xiao Chuting undoubtedly brought Yuan Xiu great pride. He felt pleased in his heart. He had already noticed Li Ximing waiting at the mountain with the courtesy of a disciple from afar, and he raised his chin, rare laughter coming to his lips.
Li Ximing responded with a smile. When Yuan Xiu came closer and others could no longer hear, Li Ximing cupped his hands and said, "This junior greets the Daoist Master! It was thanks to Fellow Daoist Si Yuanli who ordered the interception of the devil cultivators, securing the north of Yue State that allowed me to break through in peace... I am deeply grateful!"
Yuan Xiu quickly waved his hand to stop him and laughed in his weathered voice. "Why speak so politely, Fellow Daoist? Yuanli is your junior, there's no need for such courtesy. As for what happened on the river, it was Li Xuanfeng who turned the tide. Yuanli merely did his duty."
Yuan Xiu was, after all, an old fox. Li Ximing was only glad he had spoken after drawing close, lowering his voice.
The elder then said, "Please!"
The two Purple Mansion Realm cultivators proceeded into the cave dwelling. Inside, spiritual qi had condensed into droplets, and there was a great pool of Pristine Water gleaming like a vast gem. A powerful surge of Pristine Water mana rushed outward, leaving Ding Weizeng, standing behind Li Ximing, visibly uncomfortable.
Six magnificent jade thrones, carved from azure jade, stood above the Pristine Water pool. The dense spiritual energy mingled with dharma light until it was almost solidified into shimmering rainbow brilliance, illuminating the entire cave dwelling in radiant splendor.
How many Pristine Water Purple Mansion Realm breakthroughs had taken place in this hall was unknown. Si Boxiu gestured with a 'please,' but did not take the main seat. Instead, he sat at the side in the highest position.
Li Ximing used his divine ability to shield Ding Weizeng from the Pristine Water radiance and then sat on the jade throne below. Just as he was about to speak, he suddenly faltered slightly.
Yuan Xiu, seated above, also paused, then sneered coldly, "Qing Tangyin of Mount Changhuai has fallen! That old fool was miserly even unto death! He couldn't even bear to invite anyone to witness his Golden Core Realm breakthrough... the old ghost!"
Li Ximing instantly understood. The heavenly light at his brow shifted faintly as he exclaimed in surprise, "The spiritual aura has changed! Far too soon... it should be the peak of Upper Evil Spirit Storage right now..."
The smile on Yuan Xiu's face quickly faded, replaced once more by solemnity. He shook his head and said, "It can hardly be called early anymore. Zhaojing, have you noticed? Upper Evil Spirit Storage has grown so feeble it is hardly recognizable. Forget devil cultivators, even special spirit items and spirit lands have ceased to emerge..."
I've been in seclusion every day, never leaving my chambers—how would I know any of this... Li Ximing muttered inwardly, but outwardly kept a faint smile, nodding lightly as the heavenly light shimmered at his brow, replying, "Indeed..."
1. The 'roc' (鹏, péng) is a legendary giant bird first described in Zhuangzi's Free and Easy Wandering. It is said to transform from a massive fish called Kun (鲲) and can soar for thousands of miles with wings like clouds hanging from the sky. In Chinese culture, the roc symbolizes vast ambition, transcendence, and limitless potential. ☜