Chapter 723 519: Six Xin Qi Jin

Li Chengliao hurried down as commanded, leaving Li Ximing and his younger brother to survey the mountain; Secret Forest Mountain had originally been the Jiang Family's mountain gate, with deep earth veins—though lacking in fire veins, it had the advantage of an abundant earth vein.

Li Ximing calculated with his fingers for a moment, then praised:

"This place's earth vein has the appearance of famous rivers and majestic mountains. Although the spiritual energy is somewhat lacking, its foundation may well rival an ordinary Zifu mountain gate, and with effort, one might even barely arrange a Zifu Great Formation here."

Li Xijun nodded—though their Li Family possessed many Immortal Mountains, there truly wasn't one to count as a grand mountain; they were all solitary or strange peaks.

Even Lijing Mountain, the birthplace of the Li Family's rise, only benefited from its proximity to Lijing Town. Measured carefully, it did not qualify as an Immortal Mountain; only, the clan had flourished there and so chose it out of convenience.

As for Qingdu, in the heart of the lake, the present Foundation Establishment Great Formation had already reached its limit; it was only thanks to Liu Changdie's exceptional formation technique—had it been anyone else, it could hardly have been accomplished.

Secret Forest Mountain had ten or so cave mansions carved open; only a handful enjoyed high concentrations of spiritual energy, on par with Qingdu Mountain, but nonetheless lesser than their best Witch Mountain cave mansions.

The Jiang Family passed down Jade True Toaist Lineage for generations; the Yu Family also cultivated the Jade True Dao. Though the mountain had been trampled and left in ruins, one could still see shattered jade all over the ground—several jade artifacts lying scattered and askew.

Li Xijun used a wisp of mana to lift one piece, studied it briefly, and murmured:

"I've heard the Jiang Family's forebear was a disciple of the Immortal Mansion, practicing the Jade True Path—a direct Toaist Lineage with that Perfected Person of Xiuyue Sect."

Li Ximing sighed:

"It won't be long before Shangyuan Perfected Person breaks through. Uncle wrote home, saying it would be any day that he and Yuan Su Perfected Person leave for the Northern Sea to attend the ceremony… Yuan Su has little lifespan remaining…"

The two both smelled the coming storm. Not only the Zifu Immortal Clans—even noble families such as theirs were ill at ease, hearts anxious and disturbed. The Xiao Family had long been in seclusion and could hardly be relied upon by then.

One of their only remaining backers, Yuan Su, was himself short of years. In these times, lacking a Zifu protector meant becoming a pawn in others' schemes—quietly, without even realizing it.

Li Ximing's voice grew somewhat heavy; softly, he said:

"I have accumulated enough—after this, I can retreat and break through to Foundation Establishment Late Stage… The household must be entrusted to you, brother."

Li Xijun's expression was unreadable; after a moment, he spoke with concern:

"The Chengming generation are not mediocre in mind, but their cultivation is too shallow. With our family's resources, Qi Cultivation is achievable, but Foundation Establishment is very difficult. Chengliao is still acceptable; Chenghuai's talent is even worse. Their wives are both exceptional, but their own fortune is poor…"

The higher a cultivator's cultivation, the greater the chance their offspring possess the spirit aperture and better aptitude. Yet such patterns aren't absolute. Li Xizhi was considered fortunate, while Li Ximing's own eldest son was born without even a spirit aperture, much to his endless regret.

"We must look to the next generation."

Though both placed high hopes in Li Zhouwei, one person could not support the house alone. They often wished for one or two outstanding children, to provide some assurance for the future.

The pair fell briefly silent, an unspoken gloom encircling their hearts. The Li Family had long observed noble families: Yu, Fei, Yuan, Xiao—even the Chi Family of Qing Chi Sect—each boasted their own style of nobility.

The Li Family had always gained renown by nurturing talent, allowing them to rise quickly by the lakeside. In the past, their elders attracted Foundation Establishment and Zifu patrons even during Fetal Breathing. Thus, facing these established houses, they revealed their own sharpness.

Yet now, as their own foundations gradually strengthened, the younger generation struggled to produce talent. Despite strict upbringing, ensuring they could not be easily deceived outside, there remained a sense that they were slowly following in those families' footsteps.

The ground beneath was the Yu Family's mountain gate; thus, the feeling was especially acute. Li Xijun grew silent for a moment, then could only say:

"We can only look to our descendants."

After all, it was a day worth celebrating. The two quickly shook off the mood. Li Chengliao happened to return, accompanied by a middle-aged woman, neatly dressed and walking behind him with lowered eyes.

Li Chengliao knelt with her, then explained:

"To report to you, clan uncles: This is Taoist Yu Xianghua, originally of the Yu Family's direct lineage, later married outside… During the Yu Family's schism, as kin slaughtered kin, she was hidden by a Guest Elder and thus survived."

Having finished, Li Chengliao glanced at the woman and softly said:

"Please make your report to the elders."

Yu Xianghua bowed and replied:

"Honored elders, this chamber is no ordinary setup. Though I belong to the direct lineage, I was never entrusted with the compatible opening methods… My elder brother is of the direct Yu line; he would know."

There was fear in her bearing; she murmured:

"Please, elders, spare my family's bloodline… The Yu Family—one hundred and sixty men and women—are imprisoned in dungeons spread across the mountains… My brother is willing to offer his spells, only asking…"

Li Xijun understood, asking:

"Do you take Foundation Establishment methods lightly? No need to offer spells—there are means to retrieve what your brother knows regardless."

Yu Xianghua wept without end, prostrating herself:

"The matter has reached this point; my family has no other path. For a century all was orchestrated by Yu Mugao and his son. With their deaths, all in the household spurn and curse them, including those Yu Family members who had secret dealings with the nobles. Now our clan is ruined completely—this is only just retribution. I beg you, grant us a way to survive!"

She kowtowed repeatedly, blood staining the jade bricks. Li Xijun watched in silence for a moment, then gently said:

"Seven families will be sent to Shanyue, to fill the posts in the places of the shamanic guardians—some hands are still lacking there."

"Your surviving bloodlines—let the men marry in, the women marry out, join with my collateral lines, take positions among the clan soldiers, and look after them there."