Chapter 606 455: Five Lords Observe the Cup

Li Yuanjiao rode the wind all the way back to Qingdu Mountain; Li Xijun was in seclusion, attempting a breakthrough, and the one who came to greet him was his daughter, Li Yuexiang.

Li Yuexiang had already grown into a graceful and elegant maiden, dressed in crisp white, her hair adorned with a simple white jade osmanthus blossom the size of a nail. She had inherited Xiao Guiluan's pair of phoenix eyes and carried the gentle beauty of the South River. She clasped her hands and said:

"Yuexiang greets Father."

Li Yuexiang was polite and proper, calling Li Yuanjiao to lower his gaze and close his eyes, speaking softly:

"Xiang'er has begun Qi Cultivation."

Li Yuexiang had already broken through to the Qi Cultivation stage, practicing the "Child's Flame Eternal Art." Li Yuanjiao, unawares, still remembered his child as a little baby; now, looking back, he realized he had utterly missed her entire childhood.

Li Yuexiang smiled and nodded. Li Yuanjiao fell into a brief silence, then spoke softly:

"This return is only to see you and your mother once more. I am about to enter the [Qing Song Temple Ruins], and fear there is little chance of survival."

Li Yuexiang paused, glanced at the silent, black-robed middle-aged man before her, and replied:

"Thank you for your hardships, Father."

Li Yuanjiao walked forward with his hands behind his back, his lips moved, and after a moment, he awkwardly uttered,

"Do you... have any favored Magic Artifacts?"

"No."

Li Yuexiang answered casually, and the middle-aged man, clumsily searching for topics, quickly sought out Xiao Guiluan.

Xiao Guiluan had lingered at the ninth layer of Qi Cultivation for some time. Though Li Yuanjiao presided over the Li Family, he could not find a single Sui Origin Pill for her. The Xiao Clan knew he disliked interference in Li Family affairs, and she had always cultivated quietly on the mountain.

These past years, to pass the time, Xiao Guiluan had learned some Talisman arts. Upon seeing her husband return unexpectedly, she was delighted. Li Yuanjiao exchanged a few intimate words with her, then spoke of the matter concerning Qing Song Temple.

Xiao Guiluan gazed at him quietly, waiting for the black-robed, middle-aged man to finish, then asked:

"Must you go?"

Li Yuanjiao was silent for a long while before replying:

"If he breaks through to Zifu, my family shall have no resting place—even our bones will have no burial grounds. I must kill this man. Though Uncle alone might defeat but not slay him, I must carry my sword within and, together, employ Sword Intent to sever him."

Li Yuanjiao on the surface used the enmity between the two families as an excuse, but the truer cause lay with that jade clasp. Xiao Guiluan's expression dimmed; she dismissed Li Yuexiang, then spoke in a low voice:

"I know you have reasons you cannot avoid. I only hope you take care of yourself."

Li Yuanjiao nodded, and withdrew a small letter from his sleeve, speaking softly:

"If I do not return, deliver this letter to Xizhi at Green Pond."

Xiao Guiluan silently accepted it. Li Yuanjiao studied her closely, gazing into her phoenix eyes before finally smiling and saying:

"Do not overthink. Perhaps Yu Muxian is not adept in the art of spell-battle."

Three months' time, pressed and urgent, and he dared delay no longer. Soon, after requesting the Immortal Mirror, he rode the wind and soared away. Li Yuexiang waited atop the mountain peak, Li Yuanjiao paused to gaze back. His daughter hesitated, then softly called out:

"Take care, Father."

Li Yuanjiao nodded faintly, gave a brief laugh, and rode the wind away.

He did not head north, but first journeyed eastward, flying directly to Xianyou Mountain.

The Xiao Family's Xianyou Mountain could be considered a famous and mighty range. Li Yuanjiao rarely visited, yet, upon announcing himself, a man clad in brocade promptly came to greet him, striding like a dragon and tiger, exuding great might.

"So, it's my brother-in-law who has arrived."

Xiao Guitu himself came to welcome him. Li Yuanjiao had not seen him in decades; sensing his aura had reached perfection, already at the Late Stage of Foundation Establishment, he replied:

"Congratulations, congratulations. The Family Head's cultivation advances swiftly."

Xiao Guitu waved his hand, and softly replied:

"The road ahead is still long; such words are premature."

Li Yuanjiao offered a few polite remarks, but did not waste further words, and said quietly:

"Regarding [Qing Song Temple], is your noble family involved?"

Xiao Guitu paused, then answered:

"The patriarch has already gone. Our [Yushan Weng], Senior Xiao Yongling, has entered. As for collecting Spiritual Energy outside the Cave Heaven... our people are too few; we will not join such bustle."

When Qing Song Temple approaches the mortal world, it will certainly allure much Spiritual Energy and many Spiritual Objects, with many people arriving solely to gather them. Hearing this, Li Yuanjiao offered his respects, explained that Li Xuanfeng had entered, and Xiao Guitu, thoughtful, said:

"The elders are old friends; all things have their measure."

Li Yuanjiao finished his tale, exchanged final courtesies, then took his leave. Xiao Guitu escorted him out, watched the winds settle, and murmured to himself:

"It seems he intends to kill Yu Muxian... Though relations are good, no one would endanger their own kin, so there is little to worry about."

Li Yuanjiao departed from Xianyou Mountain and headed northward.

He never expected the Xiao Family would intervene, for to antagonize at least one Perfected Person was at stake. Should the matter fail, yet another future Perfected Person would be offended—the Xiao Family would never risk such waters; this consultation was mere formality, a show of respect.

"For this matter... we can rely only on ourselves."

He flew on, head bowed, journeying to Salty Lake. Following the water veins east, he quickly skimmed over the near sea, dove beneath the waves, and arrived at the market town on Fenkui Island.

More and more cultivators crowded the market, even many Foundation Establishment Cultivators usually scarce in sight came to gather intelligence.

The matter of the Qing Song Temple Ruins had been disputed for years, but now the news spread wider and wider, rumored that Qing Song Cave Heaven was about to draw near the mortal realm. Cultivators, attracted like sharks to blood in the water, began to gather actively within these seas.

Whether or not one could enter Qing Song Cave Heaven, its near approach to the human world was a significant event. Across Qing Song Island, countless phenomena would arise: unique forms of nature's spiritual energy long vanished might emerge anew—be it spiritual water or spiritual fire—just as with the event of Eastern Fire Cave Heaven years prior.

Although [Qing Song Cave Heaven] only approaches the mortal world—unlike the crash of the Eastern Fire Cave Heaven that left many artifacts scattered—Qing Song Cave Heaven is much larger, far more ancient. The mere proliferation of various Spiritual Objects born from it would be enough for cultivators to contend over.