Li Xinghan thanked him, and Li Xuanxuan nodded repeatedly before asking, "Do you have a dharma sword?"
At those words, everyone knew a sword was about to be bestowed. Li Xinghan respectfully replied, "I have a lower-grade Qi Cultivation Realm dharma sword called Northern Jade. It was part of my uncle's collection and was once a dharma artifact of the Yu Family. It was forged long ago, likely dating back to the Jiang Family, and is quite practical."
"The Yu Family." Li Ximing’s brows rose. Since Li Xuanxuan had brought it up, it was clear that he would be bestowing a dharma artifact. Li Ximing said, "Yu Mujian once had a sword called Copper Cache. It was severed by Brother Jun, and the remaining portion still exists in the treasury. It was forged from the copper of Yan Mountain and the waters of Piaoming Mountain. The forging method was ordinary, but the material is excellent."
Everyone listened intently as Li Ximing continued, "When you master Threefold Moonlight, come up the mountain. I will personally find someone to forge you a sword using Copper Cache as the material."
Li Xinghan quickly bowed and thanked him, joy spreading across her face. The promise of this dharma sword seemed to excite her even more than the Daoist Master's earlier guidance. Li Ximing then turned to glance at Li Zhouluo.
The dharma sword at Li Zhouluo's waist was already of Foundation Establishment Realm, its body a deep brownish-yellow. Li Ximing found it familiar; it should be the standard dharma sword Xushi once used by his elder brother Li Xizhi. Though merely of Foundation Establishment Realm material, it was still quite suitable for him.
In recent years, Li Chenghuai had grown closer to Li Xizhi and his wife. As a result, Li Zhouluo's cultivation resources and dharma artifacts were well provided for and mostly supplied by his grandfather. What he used was no worse than what the Azure Pond Sect direct descendant received, placing him in a class of his own within the Li Family. Thus, Li Ximing merely asked a few questions about cultivation, then dismissed the two juniors, keeping only Li Quewan behind.
He said, "You and Jiangqian wait at the foot of the mountain first."
Once the juniors had departed, Li Xuanxuan finally spoke. He did not inquire about An Siwei but instead said, "Those two children are quite good, and then there are Zhoufang and Zhouyang... Your younger brother once looked them over and said that their only noteworthy trait was their honesty. Yet now, aside from Zhouwei, Zhouluo, and Xinghan, they are the only two who can truly hold their own in the Zhouxing generation..."
His tone carried no anger, only a trace of lamentation as he said, "The rest of the dozen or so... the fickle, the foolish, and the inept are tolerable. But those who shut themselves away to indulge in their own pleasures, secretly drowning themselves in wine and lust... since it does not involve the common folk, Qingdu cannot punish them too harshly and can only let it slide. As for the remaining one or two... they are still imprisoned!"
Li Chenghuai quickly lowered his head and apologized, "It is we, the elders... we have failed to teach our younger generation properly..."
"Your Chengming generation is either cultivating or dueling, and now there are so few of you left. You guys are not to blame..." Li Xuanxuan merely waved his hand. "Zhouming was born with a troublesome temperament... and that is a problem."
When Li Ximing caught his grandson's name, he immediately understood. He glanced at Li Chenghuai and asked, "So Grandfather is blaming me... I wonder what foolish thing Zhouming has done this time?"
After all, Li Ximing had just mentioned Li Zhouming. If something had escaped his notice, then it would fall on Li Chenghuai's shoulders. Yet Chenghuai had not withheld anything; he truly had no idea what foolishness Zhouming had committed. But the last person who had deceived a Daoist Master had been reduced to ashes, and with that sharp gaze now fixed upon him, even though the Daoist Master was his elder, he still froze in fear.
Fortunately, Li Xuanxuan was shrewd in his elder years. A single exchanged glance told him all he needed to know, and he said, "This matter is beyond Qingdu's jurisdiction, and yet the blame still falls on me."
Li Xuanxuan continued quietly, "Some years ago, when you were in seclusion and Zhouming's cultivation was still lacking, I thought to help him and asked Jiangqian to arrange a position for him. But he refused to go, so the matter was dropped, and no one in the family knew.
"Later, when Chenghuai came out of seclusion, he assigned Zhouming a task, and he went reluctantly. Fearing that his cultivation might not earn respect, I privately gave him a spirit item to aid his cultivation. And yet... when I saw him a few days ago... his cultivation had not advanced at all."
Li Ximing straightened, poured tea for Li Xuanxuan, and said, "I have been negligent in discipline."
Li Xuanxuan shook his head. "A Daoist Master's bloodline, kept idle at home. So be it, we do not lack him. Whether it is shameful is another matter. But because I hope for his improvement, I must speak more than a few words."
Silence settled over the mountain. Fearing that Li Ximing might grow angry, Li Xuanxuan continued, "I am not saying he is entirely useless. In the younger generation, Zhouwei goes without saying, and aside from him, only Zhoufang, Zhouyang, Zhouluo, and Xinghan have truly amounted to something. Zhouming, at the very least, is willing to listen to his father, and that does not make him the worst among his brothers."
Li Ximing now understood his meaning and replied, "Just give him a nominal position and leave it at that. I never expected him to accomplish much anyway; it'll be enough if he focuses on guiding the children with ambition. Does grandfather expect us to prepare resources and assign someone to watch over his cultivation day and night? Our family has always selected the best through innate ability and intellect. We cannot break that rule."
Li Xuanxuan could only sigh and change the subject, "Chenghuai, your Immortal Foundation is indeed formidable, but in my opinion... it should not be used for everything."
Li Chenghuai looked slightly surprised as Li Xuanxuan went on, "There are some things you may not perceive. When the water is too clear, no fish can survive. In the two years you have led Qingdu, both the guest cultivators and the direct lineage have felt as if they are walking on thin ice. They have begun secretly communicating to evade your scrutiny. On the surface, things appear more orderly, but in truth, they have become more concealed. That is not a good sign.
"As long as the private actions remain visible to us, then even if there are grievances or misunderstandings, it is of little consequence. What we should fear is matters below becoming so cautious and hidden that neither you nor I can see them, forcing us to spend twice the effort to investigate. There are countless wondrous spell arts in the world; they will eventually come to understand and surpass your marvels. If we place too much trust in your Immortal Foundation, we may end up deceived and manipulated by them instead."
Li Chenghuai lowered his head in thought, and the elder said, "Secondly, you should now focus on your cultivation and not neglect the fundamentals for the trivial. Only matters of great importance concerning the direct descendants should call you forth to provide testimony. After all, this current state where every decision must pass through Qingdu and be judged by it breaks the proper order."
In truth, Li Chenghuai had only just refined two dharma artifacts and had yet to fully explore their many wondrous uses. He had remained stationed in Qingdu purely out of a sense of duty. Deep down, he felt that the elder had long noticed this and that his words were partly intended to help him step away. He could not help but sigh inwardly, The elder says little, but he is the one who truly sees through everything in this family... After all, he is someone who has watched over it for more than a century...
There was a hint of respect in his voice as he said, "I shall obey. I will return and relinquish Qingdu's authority!"
Li Xuanxuan stroked his beard with a smile and said, "In that case, let Zhouluo take charge of Qingdu."
"Elder!" Li Chenghuai wanted to refuse again, but when he saw Li Xuanxuan wave his hand, he could only bow and withdraw, leaving the grandfather and grandson alone.