Chapter 98: Wishes (II)

Chapter 98: Wishes (II)

Li Chejing stood before the teeming beasts at the foot of the mountain, his cultivation radiating in great power. His white robe fluttered in the evening breeze, drawing admiring glances from those around him.

“Is that Li Chejing, the Qingsui Sword Immortal?" they whispered in hushed voices.

“Indeed, just look at his aura! He’s surely a mere step away from attaining the Foundation Establishment Realm!”

Despite the gossip around him, Li Chejing was acutely aware of his own situation. In reality, he was closer than a mere step away from attaining the Foundation Establishment Realm. As a matter of fact, he had to constantly suppress his true essence in order to prevent it from liquifying.

With just a thought, he could trigger the liquefaction of the six chakras of the Embryonic Breathing Realm within his body. His cultivation would then converge at his Qihai acupoint to form the foundation of the Great Dao, thereby breaking through to the Foundation Establishment Realm.

I can’t keep delaying this... The sect has sent people to pressure me thrice already! Yôur favorite stories at novelhall.com

As Li Chejing mulled over his situation, the handsome man in white beside him patted his shoulder.

“Junior... you’re at the peak of Qi Cultivation Realm already, aren’t you?”

Li Chejing sighed internally, before turning around to face the man dressed in white.

“Yes. Has Senior Chi come to urge me toward attaining the Foundation Establishment Realm?” he asked.

Senior Chi was slightly taken aback by Li Chejing’s response but nodded.

“Yes, the sect is looking forward to it. They have also prepared the pills to help you with your breakthrough... you can enter seclusion and focus on your breakthrough any time now, Junior Brother.”

Li Chejing nodded in response with an appreciative smile.

“How kind of the sect. Chejing can only express his gratitude!”

Senior Chi nodded, though his expression changed briefly.

“Naturally. However... how confident are you in breaking through, Junior Brother?” Senior Chi asked quietly, a hint of hesitance in his voice as he cleared his throat awkwardly.

Li Chejing feigned a troubled expression and answered, “Less than eighty percent...”

“Eighty percent?!”

Senior Chi frowned at Li Chejing’s answer. An eighty percent success rate was extraordinarily high by any standard, yet considering the plethora of heavenly treasures Li Chejing had consumed, his mere ‘eighty percent confidence’ left Senior Chi perplexed.

Looks like I have no choice but to part with this Essence Gathering Pill...

With a soft sigh, Senior Chi reached into his brocade pouch and retrieved a jade bottle, offering it to Li Chejing with a smile.

"I have another Essence Gathering Pill, you may use it.”

Li Chejing nodded and accepted the jade bottle with an expression of great gratitude.

“Thank you, Senior Brother!”

Senior Chi, concealing his dismay over the loss of his valuable resource, maintained a smile on his face as he gave Li Chejing words of encouragement.

“Prepare yourself well before entering seclusion to achieve your breakthrough!”

“Aren’t you going to invite me in, Senior Brother?” Li Chejing asked with a cheeky smile on his face.

Xiao Yuansi, realizing his oversight, quickly stepped aside to welcome him in with a sheepish expression. He hurried to serve tea as they sat at a stone table, his gaze lingering on Li Chejing.

“You’ve also reached the peak of Qi Cultivation Realm, Senior Brother. How confident are you in attaining the Foundation Establishment Realm?” Li Chejing inquired.

“My chances are not as favorable as yours, with only about thirty to forty percent. I believe I’ll need a few more years of preparation,” Xiao Yuansi replied grimly with a shake of his head.

Li Chejing nodded in response.

After exchanging a few more words, he finally got into the purpose of his visit.

“I’ve come with some... matters that I hope you can help me with, Senior Brother.”

“What is it, Jing’er...?”

Li Chejing took out a jade bottle from his pocket and showed it to Xiao Yuansi. “Zhiyun gave me this Essence Gathering Pill... please send this to my family,” he requested.

Xiao Yuansi nodded in understanding before hesitation filled his expression.

“Then you...” his voice trailed off as his eyes glanced at Li Chejing questioningly.

“I won’t be using it.” Li Chejing announced, shaking his head with a confident smile.

He proceeded to lay out several items from his storage pouch and explained, "Over the years, I’ve earned some merit and traded it for an alchemy legacy. I heard that Xuanfeng’er is skillful with bow and arrows, just like his father, so I’ve obtained this secret technique for them. The rest I’ve exchanged for Spirit Stones—about a hundred in total. I’ve also drawn some talismans throughout these years. So please... help me take these back to them, Senior Brother.”

Xiao Yuansi naturally understood Li Chejing’s intention, listening intently to his instructions with tears glistening in his eyes.

With sorrow in his voice, he proclaimed loudly, “Jing’er, Qingsui Peak owes you an apology!”

Li Chejing paused before shaking his head and chuckled lightly, dismissing his apology.

“Senior Brother, there’s no need for such sentiments. Everything I’ve learned and gained came from Qingsui Peak, and now... I’m merely giving back to the sect. There’s nothing wrong with that, so let’s not dwell on such thoughts.”

Despite this, Xiao Yuansi continued, “No matter the circumstances, both the Xiao Family and Qingsui Peak have supported the Li Family and myself extensively. We will always hold this kindness in high regard!”

With those words, Li Chejing rose from his seat and performed a deep and solemn bow—first toward Si Yuanbai in the north, honoring him despite his imprisonment—before turning to Xiao Yuansi.

Tears welled in his eyes as he made a fervent plea, “Senior Brother, I entrust the future care of my family to you.”

“Jing’er, as long as I, Xiao Yuansi, live, the Li Family’s legacy will be preserved!” Xiao Yuansi expressed in great earnest, remaining in his solemn stance.

As Li Chejing wiped away his tears and embraced Xiao Yuansi with a smile, he heard his senior brother whisper in his ear.

“Li Chejing, do you have any other wishes?”

Li Chejing laughed.

“Oh, my wishes have been fulfilled. If I were to wish for anything more, it would be to convey my word to that old ancestor of the Purple Mansion Realm who sought to use us as ingredients for his elixir. May his endeavor to break through to the Golden Core Realm fail and his life force deplete, reducing him to mere dust!”

His voice was cold and his words sharp.