Chapter 498 394: The Kong Clan Arrives_2

Li Xizhi nodded slightly and weighed his options in his heart. He picked up the pen and added a few more sentences to the letter, folded it silently, sealed it with his family's secret technique, and prepared to send it out.

The three precious medicines sent by Li Yuanjiao had not been used. Although his father, Li Yuanjiao, mentioned in his letter that if there was no hope of making connections, they should be kept for personal use, Li Xizhi was reluctant to stuff them all into his waist pouch.

Li Xizhi carefully examined the medicines and decided to take out one, the "Cloud Vine Spirit Pepper," planning to give it to Yundan Peak to concoct a batch of elixirs. He kept the other two untouched, placing them in a small bag to send back home with the letter.

…

Qingdu Peak.

Li Ximing sat upright by the furnace, the golden flames casting flickering light upon his face. With a gentle hook of his hand, the "Xuanyang Separation Fire" leaped out and danced on his fingertips.

The "Xuanyang Separation Fire," explosive and tenacious, acted tame like a sprite in his hands, leaping and flowing smoothly.

This was originally an excellent Spiritual Fire for combat; it was unfortunate that only one such fire was in the family's possession and had to be converted into the "Long-Range Prime Fire." Li Ximing played with it in his hand, feeling its explosive and scorching power, and felt a tinge of regret.

Li Ximing was affected by a Talisman Seed and had reached the Fifth Layer of Qi Training. He was only a step away from the Sixth Layer of Qi Cultivating. After four months of seclusion, he effortlessly achieved a breakthrough to the Sixth Layer of Qi Cultivating, possessing a smooth and effortless aura.

'Talisman Qi is so miraculous; it's a pity that one can only receive one. If I could consume a few more...' he thought.

Li Ximing had been in seclusion for two months before coming out. Feeling eager, he called a servant from outside into the courtyard, and instructed:

"Call those Dou... Several of them to come over..."

This person, having relayed messages multiple times, understood the implicit request and was about to leave when Li Ximing quickly said:

"Wait! Hold on... Someone is coming."

As the courtyard door opened with a creak, a white-robed young man walked in, with sword-like eyebrows and starry eyes, a body full of True Yuan as cold as snow, and he smiled:

"Ximing has come out of seclusion; what great timing!"

Li Xijun's cultivation had also reached the Fifth Layer of Qi Cultivating. Both of them had received Foundation Establishment level Talisman Seeds and had consecutive breakthroughs, each surpassing Li Xizhi of the sect, now both at the Middle Stage of Qi Cultivation. Only Li Xihong at the foot of the mountain remained at the Second Layer of Qi Training.

As the two brothers sat down, Li Ximing felt somewhat awkward. Li Xijun did not point it out and recounted everything that had happened before and after the seclusion. Li Ximing was genuinely pleased, responding:

"That's good news!"

Li Xijun opened his mouth to speak:

"Uncle is now in seclusion healing his injuries. In these two months, I went out to gather Qi and cultivated the 'Tujun Kuiguang.' I also visited two markets on the way and have bought all the spiritual essences and objects for you that are required for casting the 'Runyang Method.'"

As he spoke, he laid out the items from his storage bag—a series of spiritual objects including spirit stones with phoenix tail patterns, a warm jade bottle, and red spiritual essences:

"This is the 'Phoenix Tail Stone,' this is 'Grey Crow Smoke,' 'Yuan Yang Spiritual Essence'..."

Li Ximing took them one by one. Seeing Li Xijun travel-worn, he quickly thanked him and, feeling embarrassed to say more, simply expressed his gratitude.

Li Xijun waved his hand, not taking it to heart.

His cultivation had progressed, and he had begun to cultivate the "Clear Vision Spiritual Pupil." His eyes shone with insight, as if seeing completely through a person. He spoke softly:

"Our great-uncle has been quite haggard lately; it must be the inner demons troubling him. He never admits it, though. You should concoct more elixirs like the 'Clear Heart'... I'll find an opportunity to send a few more to the larger counties in the south to look for this kind of medicine."

"I also need to find a certain spiritual water and have to go out. Combining these two tasks makes things more convenient."

After hearing him, Li Ximing nodded in agreement. Li Xuanxuan was his elder, and naturally, the person he should be most concerned about. His regret showed as he said:

"I'll start alchemy right away... I'll pay closer attention to great-uncle's situation in the future, and there's no need for you all to worry."

Li Xijun smiled and nodded as Li Ximing quickly asked:

"Is 'Tujun Kuiguang' really that difficult to cultivate? Our family already has a cold water and a stream of cold Qi. Yuan Family has obtained another, and 'Cold Snow Collection' mentions three streams of cold Qi, a method for cold water... Do you still need to go out?"

"It's just that one stream of cold water missing."

Li Xijun chuckled and replied:

"The 'Bright Frost Pine Ridge' Sect I belong to is proficient in casting spells, and 'Tujun Kuiguang' is potent in my hands."

He stretched out two fingers, pressing his thumb to the base of his index finger, and muttered an incantation. Instantly, he released a dazzling flash of cold light, the chill bone-piercing, while pure and flawless glows fluttered from his fingertips, scattering in the air.

Li Ximing only felt a chill on his face, and the hairs on his back stood on end, as a layer of gleaming frost formed on the ground beneath his feet, making the circulation of True Yuan within his body somewhat sluggish.

On the desk lay spiritual materials, which Li Xijun dared not release fully; he only slightly demonstrated it, then waved his hand to disperse the spell, explaining,

"The Tujun Kuiguang is not only bitterly cold, but also Yin in nature. Once I obtain the spiritual water, I can enhance it further; by then, if I activate this spell during combat, even those with much higher cultivation levels than mine, if caught off guard, will suffer a silent setback."

Li Ximing looked on enviously,

"It's just a shame that my cultivation technique is of the Golden Sun lineage, and I cannot cultivate it. The 'Golden Hall Bright Yuan Art' is good, but it does not have the matching spells and escape techniques."

The two talked for a while, when suddenly, outside the great formation of Qingdu Mountain, a delicate shout was heard,

"Kong Clan of the Xuan Yue Sect is here by appointment; I kindly ask that you open the mountain gate!"

The two slightly startled, took flight on the wind, and outside the formation stood a woman in plain clothes, with Golden Pearls on her waist and two curved swords hanging, looking graceful and charming. Behind her was an ordinary middle-aged man who remained silent.

'Such a beautiful woman.'

Li Ximing, who was mild-mannered, although somewhat infatuated with feminine beauty, was not so blinded by lust that he lost his wits; knowing she was a Foundation Establishment senior, he lowered his head, not daring to look.

Li Xijun then cupped his fists and said,

"Is the visitor Senior Kong Tingyun?"

"Exactly, and you are...?"

Kong Tingyun glanced at him, inwardly praising and being a tad more polite, said in a gentle voice,

"Brother Yuanjiao once made an appointment with me to construct a fire vein for the nobles' clan; thus I have come as promised."

"Rustle..."

As they conversed, the deep blue surface of Wangyue Lake suddenly burst open, and a black-robed youth came flying up on the wind, casting a gloomy glance at Kong Tingyun. His eyes lingered on the curved swords at her waist, and his expression soured, but he stood in silence.

Kong Tingyun caught a glimpse of him, feeling it was very familiar and was shocked for a moment before exclaiming in disbelief,

"Hooked Snake?!"

Li Wushao took a couple of deep breaths, said humbly and submissively,

"The Hooked Snake is dead; I am Li Wushao of Qingdu, and I have the honor of meeting the Upper Immortal."

Kong Tingyun responded awkwardly, finally resolving the doubts that had long been buried,

'Now I understand why Li Yuanjiao somewhat inexplicably, without complaining of the hardship, brought this Hooked Snake all the way back to the Li Family... it turns out there are ways to control demon beasts... after all, being close to the Northern regions, it's not surprising.'

However, she had at her waist a pair of Foundation Establishment magical instruments made from the tail hooks of the once Hooked Snake, which was somewhat embarrassing. Now that the Hooked Snake was with the Li Family, she had to give the due respect. She silently stored the magical instruments into her storage bag and said to Kong Tingyun,

"Kong Tingyun of the Xuan Yue Sect greets the Taoist fellow."

Li Wushao's face looked much better, and he silently retreated behind Li Xijun.

With Li Yuanjiao and Li Qinghong in seclusion, the responsibility naturally fell on Li Xijun, who said politely,

"Please, senior, wait a little longer. The elders are in seclusion and are momentarily unable to come out to receive you..."

Kong Tingyun waved her hand dismissively and directly said,

"There's no need for Li Yuanjiao. Just point me to a mountain to unlock the fire vein, return the array plate to me, and then I shall depart. I don't have much time to waste."

Having said this, Kong Tingyun also cautiously voiced her concern,

"The formation hasn't been damaged by Li Yuanjiao, has it? To this day, he dares not meet me. The array plate is a valuable item; if it's broken, your family will owe a hefty compensation!"

"Senior can rest assured, naturally, there is no issue,"

Li Xijun nodded. The selection of the fire vein's location had already been planned by the Li Family, and it was chosen to be on Wutu Mountain.

Changes to a fire vein often affected the surrounding spiritual fields, and the other peaks stood amid vast spiritual fields. Only Wutu Mountain stood alone in the mountain forest; thus, they had no choice but to select this mountain.

Upon Kong Tingyun's gesture, the middle-aged man at the Qi Cultivating Peak flew on the wind towards Wutu Mountain. Li Xijun led the way, and they all watched from above in the air.