The Li Family had always been highly efficient. Li Chenghuai had already prepared numerous spirit items and arrived with his entourage while Li Xijun walked along the edge of the island and listened to the formation masters’ explanations.
Unlike the robe style worn by the Xiyue generation, Li Chenghuai wore the pleated garments commonly seen among esteemed family scions. His dark-blue wide sleeves were embroidered with black leaf patterns, layered inside and out with an elegant finish. A white mourning robe was draped over it, and he clasped his hands in greeting with graceful decorum.
Li Chenghuai was not particularly handsome; as a youth, he had looked even more ordinary. Now in his thirties, his steady demeanor lent him a more agreeable presence. Having recently taken charge of the family’s affairs, he exuded youthful vigor and confidence.
"Eighth uncle!" Li Chenghuai said, "I’ve brought all the spirit items. A few clan members and allied families who are skilled in formations came along as well... perhaps they can lend a hand."
The spirit items he referred to clearly included more than just those Metal Virtue treasures, it also encompassed a large array of formation materials. Though they were not very valuable, organizing them still took effort.
Li Xijun nodded lightly and said, "The masters are all here, coordinate with them and discuss the plans together."
Li Chenghuai landed on the island and quickly began conversing with the others. Since arranging the formation wouldn’t be a quick task, Li Xijun handed the island’s affairs over to him and rode Chilling Snow northward toward Mount Qingdu.
Li Xuanxuan was engaged in casual conversation with the elderly cultivator He Jiumen within the great hall. Both elders had witnessed a century of transformation at Moongaze Lake, and once they started chatting, they found much in common.
These aged cultivators had a deep-seated fear of Foundation Establishment Realm cultivators. When He Jiumen saw Li Xijun enter from outside the hall, he immediately stood up in alarm, respectfully stepped aside, apologized twice, and hurriedly withdrew.
Only after seeing him retreat did Li Xuanxuan’s smile drop away. He stroked his beard. "Fellow Daoist He knows the western shore well. I was getting to know him better. If we send a few of our juniors to study under him, perhaps we can gain some skill in artifact forging too."
Li Xijun respectfully nodded and replied, "He’s eager to draw close to you, my lord. That’s understandable. If you’re inclined to build ties, it would indeed be a good thing."
He shifted the topic slightly, a trace of worry in his expression, and spoke softly, "Breaking the forbidden formation won’t be too difficult nor too costly. But the island at the heart of the lake still needs a new formation. That’s the real challenge.
"Leaving cost aside, with Elder Liu Changdie absent and no reliable master of our own, we don’t even have the opportunity to set up the formation!"
Li Xuanxuan furrowed his white brows. Both of them knew all too well that the grand formation on the island at the heart of the lake would become the foundation of their family’s future. If they were to enlist a sect or immortal family to set it up, it would mean placing their own safety in the hands of others.
The Li Family had seen such cases many times before. The Yu Family’s market had been breached by Jiang Heqian, and outsiders came and went freely through the Fei Family’s grand formation. These were all cautionary tales. The only person they could truly trust, Liu Changdie, had gone missing. This was undoubtedly a thorny matter.
Li Xijun spoke softly, "Besides, this island is far too large. Ordinary formation masters won’t be able to handle it. It will require a great deal of spirit items and likely won’t be completed in a short time."
Hearing the shift in his tone, Li Xuanxuan asked aloud, "What you mean is..."
Li Xijun replied, "Why not wait until the forbidden formation is lifted, then have several formation masters work together to set up a Qi Cultivation Realm formation first? That way, the island at the heart of the lake will be enclosed, and the entire lake can be integrated. As for the main formation itself, we can discuss it further in the future."
He shook his head lightly and murmured, "The disciple from Changxiao Gate doesn’t have much time left overseas. Brother Ming hasn’t said anything, but we really shouldn’t keep delaying. If we miss the timing, it would leave regrets."
Li Xuanxuan nodded heavily. After mulling it over and studying his expression, he asked tentatively, "Was Xizhi’s return this time rather warm?"
Li Xijun paused in surprise and replied, "How could you say that, my lord? Brother Zhi returned despite his busy schedule specifically to resolve the matter of the western shore. He didn’t dare linger and returned to the sect immediately, which is why he didn’t have time to pay his respects."
Li Xuanxuan sighed. The old man was still dwelling on the matter of Li Yuexiang. When he had sent her away earlier, he had sighed about failing to cherish one’s own siblings. Now there was no time for grief, but he still worried about the brothers’ relationship.
He advised gently, "You are different from Ximing and Xizhi. You bear the responsibility of watching over the family, so some sacrifices are inevitable. It’s best if they can understand that..."
Li Xijun hadn’t expected him to bring up Li Ximing. His hand strayed to the hilt of his sword. He drew it, and wiped the blade, shaking his head as he said, "There's not much meaning in your words, my lord. Uncle Yuanjiao told me long ago that managing a household is the same as bearing guilt. This matter was my fault; there’s no need to say more."
He sheathed his sword and took his leave to go find Li Ximing on the mountain. Li Xuanxuan remained where he was, lost in thought. Suddenly, he remembered his younger sister, put down the cup in his hand, and paced around the hall for most of the day, still steeped in regret.
***
In the blink of a few months, several auxiliary formations were set up on the island at the heart of the lake, faintly glowing amidst the reeds by the shore.
Li Chenghuai waited with his men by the lake. Soon, three streaks of dharma light descended from the sky; thunder, frost, and radiant light intertwined in a brilliant display. Li Chenghuai cupped his hands in greeting, while the elders behind him all dropped to their knees in unison.
"Welcome, my lord!"
Li Qinghong had become quite renowned by now. Her thunder had swept along the riverbanks, saving many cultivators. Many had witnessed her thunderous might with their own eyes, leading to her name being spread across many clans, with titles of all sorts flying everywhere.
The Si Family had keen eyes and were close to the Li Family, so they were happy to stir up attention. Thus, the Azure Pond Sect called her the Celestial Thunder Sparrow. But since Li Qinghong cultivated Celestial Thunder and also wielded a Profound Thunder dharma artifact, various families referred to her alternately as Profound Thunder or Celestial Thunder, which caused quite a bit of confusion.
Over the past half year, even the cultivators of the Azure Pond Sect, and Si Yuanli himself had begun using the title Celestial Thunder Sparrow in several public occasions. As a result, her name had become well known, and those present recognized her and treated her with even greater respect.
Formation Master Lin was the first to step forward and respectfully said, "The grand formation is ready. We humbly request the lord to bestow the treasure."
Li Qinghong nodded gently. Behind her, Li Xijun proffered a pale-white longbow and said solemnly, "This was used by one of our elders to guard the riverbanks. It is named White Lightning."
As soon as those words were spoken, Li Chenghuai quietly looked up. The others froze in place, then looked at White Lightning in shock and awe, thoughts running through their minds, So this is the famed White Lightning.
Li Xuanfeng had used it to slay eighteen Buddhist cultivators; it wouldn’t be an exaggeration to call it the foremost bow in Jiangnan. Formation Master Lin quickly received it, the bow’s aura like blades across his face. He placed it into the formation and stepped back to observe.
Soon, golden energy surged atop the auxiliary formation, with thunder rolling within. Formation Master Lin let out a sigh as he said, "Congratulations, my lords. This artifact is exceptional. Dispersing the residual thunder within the formation will be effortless with the strength of just three of you! It’s only equivalent to the strength of four or five cultivators."
Li Xijun did the math in his head. Both Li Ximing and Li Qinghong were late stage Foundation Establishment Realm cultivators with profound cultivation. They certainly couldn’t be considered average Foundation Establishment Realm cultivators.
"Since White Lightning alone is sufficient, there’s no need to bring out the Six Xin Unified Metal Token," muttered Li Xijun.
Though the Six Xin Unified Metal Token had lost its miraculous properties, it was still an ancient spirit artifact made of rare material. If it could be kept hidden from public view, so much the better.
Li Xijun merely said, "Let’s begin, then."