Li Xuanxuan glanced at the Daoist Master silently sipping his tea beside him and asked, "Ming'er, where do you think the Zhouxing generation falls short?"
The Daoist Master in embroidered white robes drew back the heavenly light between his brows, took a sip of tea, and said, "Too kind... and thus vulnerable to deception."
Li Xuanxuan praised, "Indeed."
Li Ximing said quietly, "Father told me since I was a child that Moongaze Lake is a treacherous land. One who governs a family must be most skilled in mischief, cunning, and deception in order to subdue such people and thus bring stability to the common folk. Zhouluo and Xinghan are not lacking in ability, but their noble birth has given them lives of ease. They are fine in cultivation and spell duels, but if they encounter people like Wenhu or Chen Yang, they will likely be deceived."
In truth, Li Ximing was putting it mildly. Li Zhouluo was not foolish, but if he faced someone like Wenhu, there was a high chance he would be manipulated with ease.
That was precisely what worried Li Xuanxuan, who said, "Who can say? People grow with age. Chenghui was once just a quiet and taciturn boy of the Chengming generation, and no one thought he would amount to much. Let us wait and see."
The matter of An Siwei had crossed his mind several times, yet Li Xuanxuan ultimately did not bring it up. He simply rose and said, "I have stayed on this peak for too long, so it is inevitable that I speak of family matters. Do not think me long-winded."
"Grandfather's guidance brings endless benefit to the family." Li Ximing escorted him down the mountain. At the foot, Li Jiangqian and Li Quewan were waiting nearby, while a broad-faced man stood behind them.
Li Ximing, not inclined to climb back up, sat down in the pavilion at the mountain's base and asked, "How is the matter of Mifan progressing?"
Li Jiangqian spoke respectfully, "The Wang Family has arrived. This is Wang Quwan. He is from a different branch than Wang He, yet he too is of the Jiangbei Wang Family's direct lineage."
The Wang Family was somewhat unique. They were a powerful local force originally migrated from the Qi region of Zhao State. They not only had a considerable presence in Floating South and Hidden East but had once extended their lineage all the way to the Golden Tang territories. As such, the Wang Family could no longer be regarded as mere guest cultivators.
Li Ximing glanced at him. Wang Quwan was plainly dressed and rather unremarkable in appearance, so he asked, "Jiangbei is unsettled, and your Wang Family has only recently relocated to the Floating South territory. Have you encountered any difficulties?"
Wang Quwan clasped his hands and bowed, his gaze lowered respectfully to the ground as he answered with utmost humility, "The Hidden East territory is in turmoil, and the Wang Family was able to escape that sea of suffering thanks to the patronage of the main house. Now, with new territory granted to us, everyone has spirit fields to cultivate and receives stipends. Even the common family members live in peace and contentment, with no hardships to speak of."
His demeanor and choice of words made the Daoist Master pause briefly. Li Ximing swept his gaze over him and noted that the man was neither young nor old, around fifty years of age.
He asked, "What spell arts have you studied? Do you possess any skills for your livelihood? Does your family have any crafts or trades to sustain itself?"
Wang Quwan kept his eyes respectfully lowered, his submission absolute and his manners more impeccable than anyone's. He replied solemnly, "Honored Daoist Master, I have practiced the sword since childhood and have gained some skill, having cultivated Sword Qi for many years. My elder brother, Wang Qudao, is currently near the Floating South territory and possesses some alchemical abilities to supplement the family's livelihood."
Li Ximing noticed the man's calm state of mind that was neither servile nor arrogant. He was clearly no ordinary person, and his words were measured and restrained. A faint unease stirred in Li Ximing's heart, This one is no simple character either... Wenhu, Ding Weizeng, Gongsun Baifan... and now Wang Qudao and Wang Quwan... Jiangbei truly is heaven's favored land. It is far from ordinary... and far too unusual.
Li Ximing remained silent, and Wang Quwan could only continue kneeling. Yet a strange premonition suddenly arose within the Daoist Master, How does my family compare to the Xiao Family of old? Back then, when the Xiao Family gazed upon my ancestor Tongya, did they look upon him just as I now look upon Wang Quwan?
Did the Purple Mansion Realm cultivators of that era think the same of my family? First there was Wan Huaqian and Yu Yufeng, then came Li Chejing and Yu Muxian, and now there is Li Tongya... Moongaze Lake truly is heaven's beloved land!
Countless thoughts swirled through his mind, but after a brief moment, he nodded and said, "Very well. Since you are willing to serve in my household, your treatment will be according to that of our family's cultivators."
Wang Quwan nodded respectfully. Then, with a flick of the Daoist Master's finger, a jade slip landed before him as the Daoist Master said, "Our family possesses the Xiaoshi Sky-Cleansing Scattered Cloud Art, which is far superior to whatever minor technique you have studied. Moreover, it includes a Foundation Establishment Realm chapter. Begin cultivating it first."
A gleam of joy lit up Wang Quwan's eyes. He understood the Daoist Master's meaning almost instantly. The Wang Family had Wang He, who was in the Capital Immortal Dao in Jiangbei. The Wang Family was the foremost family there, with many branches even among their direct lineage. If the Li Family desired to maintain stable rule, having a Foundation Establishment Realm cultivator from the Wang Family was indispensable.
He accepted the jade slip respectfully and expressed his gratitude, "This junior thanks the Daoist Master. The Wang Family will remain loyal servants of the main house in Jiangbei. We would give our lives without hesitation for the Daoist Master and the family head."
Seeing that he had at least grasped the surface meaning, Li Ximing spoke more freely and nodded, "Our family will set aside portions of the Three Aspects Breaking Realm Pill, White Breath Yellow Bud Pill, and other such pills for you. When you are ready to attempt a breakthrough, come to Zhijing Mountain."
Wang Quwan thanked him respectfully and took his leave, descending the mountain. Once he had departed, Li Ximing turned to Li Jiangqian and asked, "Has a candidate been chosen from the clan to cultivate the Mifan technique?"
Li Jiangqian nodded in reply, "Honored Daoist Master, I have just checked. Unfortunately, Sister Queyi, who has a higher innate ability, has already broken through and cannot start the cultivation. Among the Jiangque generation, there are three who have reached the fifth or sixth stage of the Embryonic Breathing Realm. This technique requires time to gather qi, but fortunately, the Wang Family still has a stock of what is needed. We have retrieved it and will first have one of the younger family members begin cultivating, and then decide further steps."
After seeing Wang Quwan earlier, Li Ximing felt that he was at least capable. Given a few years, his cultivation might not turn out bad either, and that thought eased his mind. He said, "Wang Quwan is a man of ability. As it stands, the Mifan Dao lineage cannot proceed without him, which shows he also carries sufficient fortune. You must watch him closely. The Wang Family of Jiangbei is too vast to be easily bound, but if you make good use of Wang Quwan, he will be no less valuable than Ding Weizeng."
"This junior will remember your words!" replied Li Jiangqian.
Having settled the matter of Mifan, Li Ximing drew a stone box from his sleeve, which contained the final testament of Changxi. He handed it to Li Jiangqian and said, "I will make a trip to Purple Smoke Gate and perhaps stop by Xuanmiao Temple afterward to settle the matter of Shanji Prefecture first. Notify Chenghui and have him gather the people of Profound Peak Gate. Tell them to retrieve the items beneath the seat of Stillness Peak Hall and cross-verify them with this portion."
He did not linger and transformed into heavenly light. Li Jiangqian remained bowed until that heavenly light vanished completely over the horizon, then rose and turned to Li Quewan, asking, "Sister, how have you been these past few months?"
"Not much progress." Li Quewan responded softly, a trace of worry on her face as she said, "It seems Shanji Prefecture cannot be held any longer. The entire prefecture is about to be lost, and all of Profound Peak Gate's foundations will be scattered. I wonder how the Kong Family members will react."
Li Jiangqian replied, "What reaction can they possibly have? Has our Li Family not already shown them enough benevolence and righteousness? Look at Xuanmiao Temple and Jingyi Mountain; our family is preserving their Dao lineage. If something cannot be held, no matter how precious it is, it must be abandoned. Should our family risk lives to protect it?"
Li Quewan sighed, "Brother Jiangqian, that is indeed the truth, but clarity is often lost when one is caught in the middle of events. In Profound Peak Gate's eyes, it may not look like a rescue at all, they might see it as something their ancestor bartered for with spirit artifacts and treasures, something not offered to any other family. Everything now depends on whether Kong Guxi can make sense of it. If he cannot, his fate will be far worse than Yuan Fuyao's!"