Chapter 499 395: Shi Kongheng

Kong Tingyun stood in midair, as the townsfolk at the foot of the mountain bustled about, all raising their heads to look at her. They did not seem particularly afraid. She swept her gaze around and asked:

"Your domain is not large, yet your people are numerous. There are also many Fetal Breathing and miscellaneous Qi cultivators."

Li Xijun nodded and replied with a few words. Kong Tingyun reminded him:

"However, more people and cultivators isn't always better. One must keep control."

Kong Tingyun's advice was well-intended and tactful. Li Xijun also nodded in agreement, answering gently:

"Thank you for the reminder, Senior. Our family has already begun selecting Spiritual Aperture Seeds; ordinary talents rarely enter our gates."

As the two talked, the middle-aged man from Xuan Yue Sect had already finished his inspection. He rode the wind back, speaking in a flat tone:

"Reporting to the Peak Master, the fire vein here is of average auspice. It can be drawn forth from the earth vein, producing a moderate Earth Fiend Fire, enough for artifact refining and alchemy, though gathering Qi will be a bit slower."

"After all, it's by the lakeside. This is already decent."

The middle-aged man stepped back. Kong Tingyun offered a word of praise and asked:

"If there are no issues, then let us draw out the fire vein."

"Please proceed as you see fit, Senior."

Li Xijun performed a respectful salute. Kong Tingyun inclined her head in a small gesture. That middle-aged man received his orders and went below, where things quickly became busy. Li Xihong stepped forward and asked a couple of questions, then bowed to Kong Tingyun and withdrew to confer with the middle-aged man.

Li Xijun could not let Kong Tingyun wait idly, so he courteously led her up to Qingdu Mountain. When Kong Tingyun sat down, she asked:

"I've heard your esteemed family has a thunder cultivator—a sister, is it? I wonder if I might have the fortune to meet her."

"Reporting to Senior, Aunt Qinghong has already gone into seclusion to break through to Foundation Establishment."

Kong Tingyun's voice was gentle:

"What a pity. In recent years, several Thunder Dharmas have emerged in the world. The Yu Family, too, has a thunder cultivator. We of Xuan Yue have also heard of it."

She paused, then smiled and said:

"A few of us same-sect members made a wager: the Li Family's thunder cultivator would be the first among us to reach Foundation Establishment. Now it seems the outcome is nearly certain."

Li Xijun listened closely, not daring to say much, but Kong Tingyun was quite talkative:

"That Green Pond Buzi was likely acting on impulse or moved by karma. He's been wandering the East Sea these past years and seldom returns. The Eastern Fire Cave Heaven is all but managed by Jin Yu Sect now."

"I hear Green Pond Cave Heaven could not stand idly by any longer and is sending down a late-stage Zifu cultivator called Perfected Person Sui Guan to keep the sect in check."

Li Xijun nodded as he listened, feeling faintly uneasy though his expression remained composed. He asked:

"A late-stage Zifu... The Upper Sect's foundation truly runs deep."

"Of course it does."

Kong Tingyun curled her lips and spoke softly:

"Every ten years, two or three Foundation Establishment cultivators appear on Green Pond's Thirty-Six Peaks. In five hundred years, there have been four Zifu not bearing the Chi surname. Green Pond Cave Heaven is barely the size of a county, yet it holds unique blessings. Can you guess how many Zifu dwell within?"

"Most impressive indeed."

Li Xijun offered a measured word of praise, lowering his head in silence. Kong Tingyun, meanwhile, leaned back in her seat, playing with a Golden Pearl as she waited. After a moment, as the ground of Wutu Mountain began to shake, Kong Tingyun finally said:

"The fire vein has begun to be drawn. My senior brother will remain here to organize your earth veins for a year or more, and will watch over them for three years. Li Yuanjiao, it seems, will not emerge from retreat any time soon, so I will not wait further."

She extended her jade-like hand and said:

"Now, may I have my Jade Verdant Array Plate back?"

It was only then that Li Xijun realized the array plate's name. He took it out and, though reluctant, handed it respectfully to Kong Tingyun, saying:

"Senior, might this array plate be rented from you?"

Seeing the hope in his eyes, Kong Tingyun smiled lightly and replied:

"That would be difficult. The sect has orders. I am to travel to the East Sea soon, and my movements are uncertain... Besides, once on the island, I'll need the array for my own safety. I cannot lend it."

Kong Tingyun put away the array plate. Li Xijun apologized, then escorted her out of the Li Family's territory before returning, riding the cold wind.

At the summit of Wutu Mountain, there was now a wide open space. Faint red patterns were engraved upon the smooth ground, and at the center, a large mouth was belching thick smoke.

Beside it, Li Ximing held a jade gourd. As soon as black smoke rose, he gathered it up at once. At the edge of the pit stood the middle-aged man, who was forming hand seals to control the formation.

This Xuan Yue sect member wore a deadpan look, staring only at the fire in his hand. When Li Xijun landed, he merely shifted his expression a little, speaking hoarsely:

"I am Kong Gushun of Xuan Yue. Greetings, Taoist Fellow."

"Li Xijun of Qingdu."

Li Xijun answered genially, and Kong Gushun nodded, returning to manipulate the fire vein.

Li Ximing by the side, too, had a knack for fire control, and watched with itching hands, but dared not reveal himself. Unable to resist, he held back. Li Xijun watched for a while but saw no real mystery; by then, his elder brother Li Xihong had come riding the wind.

He had a regular countenance and tall, imposing figure, a full head taller than his younger brother, always wearing a serious and proper expression. He said softly:

"Jun'er, that monk is about to leave!"

He was more than ten years the senior of his brothers, near a father's age. As Li Yuanyun neglected the family, he'd raised them himself; thus, he spoke to them by their given names.

Li Qinghong had, after all, listened to the monk's suggestions. She had just gone to Heavenly Thunder Peak, and Li Xijun, for his part, had sent people to keep a close watch on the monk. Now, hearing this, he asked urgently:

"Can you keep him here?"

Li Xihong replied helplessly:

"We tried. The monk refuses."

Li Xijun took his brother and rode the wind out. As expected, on the lake a globe of golden light was afloat, circled by several cultivators of the Li Family.

At the forefront was Xu Gongming, holding a pair of short halberds. Half his face was masked, to cover up the spell injuries he'd suffered during the demon calamity. In recent years, he'd turned misfortune to fortune, advancing rapidly, and had now reached the Fifth Layer of Qi Training.