Mount Qingdu.
While Li Xuanfeng and his party traveled north, another Heavenly Glow Dawn Cloudliner descended at Moongaze Lake. It gleamed with the same soft, glowing hues, and was now resting atop Milin Mountain. The various households around the lake rushed to send representatives.
Cultivators bustled up and down Milin Mountain. Li Xijun stood atop the jade platform on the mountain's summit, gazing at the silently landed Dawn Cloudliner with a somewhat complicated expression. He thought to himself, Truth be told... this is the first time our family has hosted a Dawn Cloudliner. Though unexpected, it does mean we’re recognized as a voice of authority in the region.
He waited on the platform for a moment. Beside him stood Chen Donghe and An Zheyan, both at the late stage of the Qi Cultivation Realm. On the other side were An Siming and An Siwei, who had also reached the same stage. The two brothers had just returned from the desert, so they were still dusty and travel-worn.
Li Xijun’s calculations back then hadn’t been wrong. Now, among the Li Family’s esteemed ones and core lineage, there were only seven late stage Qi Cultivation Realm cultivators, and the An Family alone accounted for three. Even this year, the brothers' offspring had made breakthroughs in the Qi Cultivation Realm. The An bloodline was extraordinarily potent, it was something everyone knew.
Still, none had reached the Foundation Establishment Realm. That said, the two brothers were unquestionably loyal, the type who followed orders without a word of complaint. This gave Li Xijun a measure of reassurance.
The Chen and An Families were the strongest. Lined up behind them were the Tian, Dou, and Xu Families. Further back stood Dili Youjie of Northern Mount Yue and Li Jiman and Shamoli of Eastern Mount Yue, off to the side. As for the surrendered tribes and families settled in Mount Yue, they didn’t even qualify to stand on the platform.
Shamoli was an elder of his family. He had been the first King of Eastern Mount Yue, rising to power after pledging allegiance to the Li Family. He practiced thunder arts and had even met Li Tongya. Thunder arts consumed lifespan, and the methods practiced by this old Mount Yue cultivator were far from orthodox. He aged faster than most and now stood in the back, eyes half-closed, saying nothing.
At the lake now, aside from the Li and Fei Families, only the small families from the eastern and northern shores remained. All greeted the Li Family respectfully. The Fei Family stood to the side, hesitant and uncertain.
After a short wait, a man in white robes flew down from the Dawn Cloudliner. Dressed in ornate garments with a splendid crown, he descended from the ship with a faint smile and presented a jade seal.
He parted his lips lightly and spoke, "By the immortal order of the sect, Yuanwu Peak’s period of governance has ended. Moongaze Lake and the eastern banks, including the Lixia Families, are henceforth placed under the jurisdiction of Moon Lake Peak!"
The crowd fell into a thunderous bow and responded in unison, "Greetings to the Emissary of the Immortal Sect!"
Good! As expected, it’s the Moon Lake Peak! thought Li Xijun.
Li Xijun led the response, but inwardly, he caught several layers of implication. Since the Xiao Family broke away and took most of Lixia Prefecture with them, the region had been fractured. Now, judging from the emissary’s words, what remained was to be carved off and attached to Moongaze Lake’s domain.
It wasn’t a trivial matter. Though it technically made Moongaze Lake’s territory larger, it wasn’t really good news. After all, with the Xiao Family nearby, these lands essentially belonged to them and were untouchable.
As Li Xijun was deep in thought, the white-robed cultivator descended from the clouds and came forward with a gentle smile, reaching out to help him up, speaking kindly, "My master is in seclusion, attempting a breakthrough and couldn’t come in person. I am Zhao Tinggui, first disciple of Moon Lake Peak. I’ve come on her behalf... No need for formality, Xijun!"
Naturally, the Peak Master in seclusion referred to Ning Wan. The two families were indeed close, and Zhao Tinggui carried himself with a humble demeanor, smiling as he urged Li Xijun to rise. Li Xijun didn’t dare be careless and returned the courtesy. Only then did Zhao Tinggui return to the ship above and speak softly, "My visit this time follows a sect order, we are to conscript cultivators."
His smile faded gradually, though his tone remained polite. He looked toward the surrounding minor families and said gently, "This military conscription concerns territories assigned to me and my fellow brothers at Moon Lake Peak. Our merit and lives are at stake. Do not think to fob me off with cultivators bearing various unrefined qi."
He paused for a moment, then said in a soft tone, "If I note which family’s disciples are too poor in quality, and return a few months later to conscript again, there will be blood."
Zhao Tinggui looked every bit the refined young gentleman, but his words were far from mild. Several nearby family heads exchanged nervous glances, all too frightened to speak. Zhao Tinggui went on, "If a family's disciples perform well and earn merit, I, too, will not withhold rewards. Not to mention, the battlefield offers great opportunities. You should put forth your most capable ones."
Watching the scene unfold, Li Xijun knew full well, though Zhao Tinggui seemed to be warning the minor families, his words were just as much meant for him. No matter how close their two families were, matters concerning life, death and merit couldn’t be taken lightly.
Just as that thought crossed his mind, a group of disciples in blue robes descended from the cloudliner. Zhao Tinggui waved his hand and said softly, "Each of you, bring your assigned people aboard."
Then he turned toward Li Xijun, came closer with great politeness, and extended a hand as white as jade, saying, "Xijun... let us discuss this thoroughly."
The two descended into the peak together and sat down in a grand hall built of white jade. After exchanging a few polite pleasantries, Zhao Tinggui casually said, "I wonder how many Foundation Establishment Realm cultivators your esteemed family can spare?"
Li Xijun sighed and replied softly, "I'm sure you know, Tinggui... most of our seniors and brothers have likely already headed north..."
Zhao Tinggui couldn’t allow him to dodge so easily, thinking to himself, Sure, Li Xuanfeng and Li Xizhi are making contributions, but not on behalf of Moon Lake Peak! If I could secure even one of them, I wouldn’t have to worry about a thing. I could relax in the sect with peace of mind... Why would I need to come all this way otherwise?
He quickly raised a hand, his expression turning solemn as he said gravely, "Xijun, you’re a clever man, and our families are close. I won’t speak in circles with you."
Zhao Tinggui gently set down his teacup, "Elder Qinghong must be deployed... I don't know about others, but she might well rival our peak's core disciples. And being of the Thunder Dao lineage, she’s perfectly suited for a post of defense."
Li Xijun pondered for a moment and gave a slight nod. Zhao Tinggui paused briefly, then continued gently, "We’ll also need one mid-stage and one early-stage Foundation Establishment Realm cultivator to establish a foothold first."
Zhao Tinggui had already made his calculations. Li Ximing of the Li Family was likely a mid-stage Foundation Establishment Realm cultivator and a rare alchemist. If he could bring him to the northern front, it would reduce casualties significantly...
Li Xijun thought for a while, then replied, "Reporting to the Emissary, my family has a buddhist guest cultivator, a Master Monk, whose strength more than equals a mid-stage Foundation Establishment Realm cultivator. We also have a mid-stage demonic cultivator, though lacking lineage and spell arts, his combat power is at least equivalent to an early-stage Foundation Establishment Realm cultivator."
Zhao Tinggui showed brief surprise, then frowned and asked, "What of Daoist Ximing...?"
"He’s in seclusion, attempting a breakthrough. He won’t be available anytime soon..." Li Xijun gave a gentle excuse.
Zhao Tinggui sighed as he heard it, and could only say, "Very well, there’s no need to rush. Let’s proceed as you suggest for now. But if the front becomes critical, we may still need Daoist Ximing to act. If things truly become dire... we might even have to trouble you, Xijun..."
He agreed.
Li Xijun nodded politely and said, "Of course."
Zhao Tinggui acknowledged with a nod, then said with hesitation, "As for the Qi Cultivation and Embryonic Breathing Realm cultivators, the Ning Family has already been assigned elsewhere. The main burden will fall upon your esteemed family..."
Though Li Xijun had anticipated this, unease still rose within him. He thought to himself, The Chi Family truly squeezes out every drop of value...
Among all the families, the Li Family had one of the largest pools of low-level cultivators. They were especially generous with outsiders, freely sharing cultivation methods. Li Xijun believed that Chi Zhiyun would undoubtedly be tempted by this and simply asked, "How many cultivators are required?"
Zhao Tinggui replied awkwardly, "Five late-stage, seven mid-stage, twenty-seven early-stage Qi Cultivation Realm cultivators, and one hundred Embryonic Breathing Realm cultivators... all must be of orthodox spiritual alignment..."
"What?!" exclaimed Li Xijun.