Family Cultivation: I Become a Mirror

Chapter 453 371: Yu Fu Affairs (Part 2)

"After this matter is settled, I will gradually let go of family affairs. Handle them as you see fit."

...

Jade Court Mountain.

Li Ximing sat cross-legged, the True Yuan of the Golden Hall Bright Yuan Art flowed within, rendering the dark chamber aglow with radiant light, all gold and red.

He slowly opened his eyes and exhaled a wisp of golden qi.

Perhaps he doubted the Divine Skills of "Elder by the Stream," for the elders' punishment was so mild it was hard to believe—only forbidden to leave, everything else unchanged, elixirs and provisions continued, and no longer was he troubled with family matters.

He was confined in this isolated small courtyard, every resource at his call, with Li Xijun occasionally coming to visit him.

Li Ximing felt as if he'd set down a burden of a thousand catties, incomparably at ease; his cultivation advanced by leaps and bounds, and he felt relieved:

"This is for the best."

He cultivated daily; in spare moments he read the Pill Scripture. Seeing through his intentions, Li Xijun named his tower the "Pill Pavilion," and often sent spiritual objects for him to practice with.

Everything at home required none of his concern; all he had to do was alchemy and cultivation, pouring all his guilt into these pursuits.

He was, in truth, not a resolute type. As a child, Li Ximing had been obsessed with the weight upon his shoulders, often imagining himself as a magic artifact devoted only to cultivation and alchemy, calmly seated above the Fire Vein.

He only needed to work silently, never fearing to disappoint his father.

'Now, like this! Is it not nearly the same as my childhood dream!'

Li Ximing gave his storage bag a gentle pat; the pill furnace flew out and thudded to the ground, its surface jet black, lines intricate, the body carved with waves and fierce beasts, three legs planted firm, and inscribed with a small name:

"River Furnace."

He flipped his elbow, producing a section of white-yellow wood—it was the Fetal Breathing spiritual object Treasure Bead Wood,

Bringing his hands together, he summoned a strand of pale golden pill fire. Li Ximing nodded secretly to himself:

'This Golden Hall Bright Yuan Art is worthy of being a Fourth Grade cultivation technique—truly remarkable. The True Yuan is pure yang, and the pill fire it calls forth surpasses the previous by far.'

"To refine Yang Green Pill, one should use Treasure Bead Wood together with the Jiaori Three-Nine Method."

All this was the accumulation of Xiao Yuansi's experience. Li Ximing tossed the block of wood under the furnace, took out the jade box, used mana to draw out the yang-green fruit, and threw it into the furnace.

He slowly extracted its essence, then picked out several auxiliary ingredients and added them one by one.

Finally he continued refining with the pill fire. After an hour or so, six pale red spirit pills came forth from the furnace mouth.

"Fetal Breathing Elixir, Yang Green Pill, it is thus complete."

These six pills could entice six Fetal Breathing cultivators to pledge their lives for months, yet Li Ximing had needed only an hour. With a special technique, he stowed them away, feeling much more at ease within.

"Father... Ximing has not entirely failed the elders' expectations."

If his primal yang had not been broken, he could perhaps have improved the yield a little more. At this, he bowed his head in silence, took out various spiritual objects from the storage bag, and readied himself to refine another batch.

...

Shankei County, Xuan Yue Sect.

Xuan Yue Sect had migrated from Xu Country, settling in Shankei County. Most there practiced earth-based profound arts, and only one Changxi Perfected Person presided. Though only a single county, Shankei was a great region, so Xuan Yue's members were not few.

Li Xuanxuan gave notification, and two outer sect disciples received him kindly. Xuan Yue Sect ranked among the weakest of the Seven Doors, with only a handful of Foundation Establishment members and little arrogance in its ranks.

Li Xuanxuan waited with the old monkey at the foot of the mountain for a time, then a cultivator came to greet him.

This man wore white clothes, features decently proper, yet with moles on both cheeks marring his aura. He was adorned with jade trinkets of all sizes, and as he descended, he laughed and said:

"Xuan Yue's Kong Yu, greetings, Taoist Fellow. May I ask which one from Lijing you are?"

"Li Family's Li Xuanxuan."

This Kong Yu, it turned out, was at the Qi Cultivating Peak, possessed of fine manners. Taken aback by the respect, Li Xuanxuan quickly replied, and Kong Yu smiled:

"Dare I ask if the Moon Que Sword is...?"

"None other than my uncle!"

Kong Yu, hearing such close kinship, nodded repeatedly and said:

"When Senior Tongya slew Maha, our Perfected Person was there as well, and spoke highly of your noble family's swordsmanship, saying that the Li Family's Sword Dao would be first-class even in Wan Yu Sword Sect."

"Elder flatters us."

Li Xuanxuan replied humbly; Kong Yu sighed:

"If not for Wan Yu Sword Sect endlessly contending over the remains of Qing Song Temple with Pure Unity Taoism and Eastern Reef, and chaos of devil cultivators in these times, your elders would long have welcomed a challenge. A pity, truly, that Senior Tongya missed a chance to make his fame!"

'A pity?'

Li Xuanxuan mocked secretly in his mind:

'Now the highest swordsmanship at home is but Jiao'er, little better than what Lingdi once was. How could it compare to Uncle, who comprehended sword qi from the Yujing Wheel? If not for the sudden magical disasters, our reputation would have been swept away already...'

Seeing he was unwilling to discuss further, Kong Yu asked directly:

"Does Taoist Fellow intend to alter the earth veins or relocate an Immortal Mountain?"

Li Xuanxuan nodded:

"I have heard the Immortal Sect excels mightily in this, unmatched in South River, and Changxi Mountain itself was moved here from Xu Country, elevating Xuan Yue's renown. I wonder if I can trouble one or two of your honored ones..."

Kong Yu agreed at once—their sect relied on this craft. First in South River was exaggeration; first in Yue Country was undeniable. He replied softly:

"Of course! It can be done. The price depends on the earth vein, only after seeing the land will it be clear. If you decide, I will go fetch the magical artifact right away."

Li Xuanxuan let him go. Soon after, Kong Yu hurried back, a coil of golden rope at his waist, delighted:

"Come then! Let's go!"

Kong Yu was easy to get along with. He and Li Xuanxuan took flight together, Kong Yu jesting:

"Luckily the other brothers aren't here, or the business would've been snatched. Sitting idly on a peak is pure torment! Far better to journey about, gain the sights, and earn some cultivation provisions!"

Li Xuanxuan chuckled; he too had seen much scenery on his way, far freer than back amidst the clan, and so made a few polite replies. Kong Yu sighed:

"Let me say it—Brother Xuanxuan resembles our eldest senior so very much. He managed the sect in his youth, but was later killed by ghosts and monsters. Seeing you brings fondness to mind."

Li Xuanxuan shook his head and offered a few comforting words; Kong Yu did not mind, and as he headed directly west, Li Xuanxuan asked:

"Why not pass through Yu Fu County? That place is now mostly free of devil cultivators... Though you are from the Immortal Sect, and powerful, there's no need to invite needless trouble..."

Many disciples of the Three Sects and Seven Doors had perished in the magical disaster, and Li Xuanxuan voiced his concern tactfully. But Kong Yu shook his head repeatedly, answering:

"No can do! The sect has forbidden it—Yu Fu County is strictly off limits these three years. Best listen to me; to head that way is a death sentence!"

"What?"

Li Xuanxuan's face grew faint; he had just come through Yu Fu County with the old monkey, and all had seemed calm. Panic struck him now, and he asked:

"Why so? I just passed through Yu Fu—have I stirred up some calamity?!"

Kong Yu retreated several steps through the air, face grim, voice changing with dread, and demanded:

"Did you linger? Did you speak with anyone? Did you happen upon injustice and save someone? I heard Senior Li Tongya is close with Chuting Perfected Person. How could you have not heard anything?"

Li Xuanxuan shook his head and replied:

"No...I didn't. Just passed through, my ancestor was still at home when I departed..."

"Then it's nothing!"

Kong Yu breathed a sigh of relief at once, a smile returning to his face. He said:

"No need to worry; as long as you didn't know anyone there, nor speak, then karma will not fall upon you, and there is no danger. But if you were involved in the slightest, you'd have become fodder."

"If you don't know the cause of all this, your family could be wiped out for it."

He stepped closer, the many jade pendants and buckles on him jangling as he lowered his voice with mystery:

"I heard even Green Pond's people have mostly withdrawn from Yu Fu County. Yuanwu, Yuan Su, and Yuanxiu—the three Perfected—are together holding down The Great Void, just to safely send this calamity back out of South River, to its own Luoxia Mountain!"

Li Xuanxuan was more bewildered than ever, and simply asked:

"Could Taoist Fellow please explain in detail?"