Chapter 124: Visiting Xiao Yongling

Chapter 124: Visiting Xiao Yongling

Li Xuanfeng flew slowly along Guli Road for most of the night, eventually arriving at Cloud Crowned Peak. Veiled in clouds and mist, both the trees and people on Xiao Family’s peak were well obscured from sight.

But just as Li Xuanfeng was descending, he encountered a repelling force coming from the mountain. Someone below called out to him in a loud voice, “Hey, Brother! You can’t fly into Cloud Crowned Peak!”

Li Xuanfeng quickly landed at the foot of the mountain. There, he was greeted by a smiling young man who seemed to be about seventeen or eighteen. He was dressed in a long flowing robe and looked rather striking.

The young man cupped his fist and greeted Li Xuanfeng respectfully.

“Which family in the east are you from, Young Master?”

Li Xuanfeng waved his hands and replied to the polite young man, “I’m no young master! It’s Li Xuanfeng from the Li Family in Lijing. I’ve come to submit my family’s tributes.”

“Li Family from Lijing?” the teenager repeated thoughtfully as he raised an eyebrow curiously. “Are you from the Li Family by Moongaze Lake..? I am Xiao Ruyu from the Xiao Family, it’s a great pleasure to meet you!”

“Indeed, I am!” Li Xuanfeng affirmed, recalling the instructions given to him by Li Tongya before his departure.

Xiao Ruyu quietened before finally asking curiously, “Is Senior Li Tongya your...”

“He’s my clan uncle!” Li Xuanfeng chuckled, then politely elaborated, “My clan uncle has sent me here to pay Senior Xiao Yongling a visit!”

“Ah... I see,” the young man nodded in understanding. “Uncle Yongling has instructed me to receive a guest from the Li Family! Please, come with me, Brother Xuanfeng.”

With a smile, Xiao Ruyu gracefully leaped up into the air. Since both of them were Qi Cultivators, they rode the wind together for a while before landing smoothly on yet another peak.

There, atop the mountain, stood a small courtyard with two pots of plum blossoms by its entrance.

Xiao Ruyu approached the door and knocked gently.

“Clan Uncle, the guest from the Li Family has arrived!” he announced respectfully in a loud voice.

A hearty laugh was heard before the door slowly creaked open, revealing a middle-aged man with sharp eyes, wrapped in snow-white fox fur. He wore a brocade pouch at his waist, and he looked quite handsome.

Upon seeing the visitor, he paused for a moment before asking, “You are...?”

“I am Li Xuanfeng from the Li Family. My second uncle is currently occupied with important matters, so I have come in his stead to pay my respects,” he explained readily.

Xiao Yongling, the middle-aged man, nodded understandingly and said with a hint of regret, “It’s unfortunate that Brother Tongya can’t make it here. I do miss him very much.”

Xiao Yongling then handed him a jade slip and said, “Brother Tongya has requested my help in finding him a book before, and I’ve finally found it. Take this back to him.”

Li Xuanfeng hesitated briefly before accepting the jade slip.

Second Uncle never mentioned searching for any books... how can he forget to inform me about it? Is Xiao Family trying to tell me something..?

“Thank you, Senior Yongling!”

When Li Xuanfeng inquired about news regarding Li Chejing, Xiao Yongling shook his head and said, “There have been no updates. It’s been years since my clan uncle also went to the southern border... we haven’t received any letters from him and are quite worried about him as well.”

This revelation left Li Xuanfeng feeling at great unease.

“The prefecture’s scenery is very different from the west. There’s still half a month before it’s time to submit the tributes... you should go and explore around,” Xiao Yongling suggested finally.

Sensing that the meeting had come to an end, Li Xuanfeng cupped his fist and bid farewell to Xiao Yongling.

Upon exiting the courtyard, he inspected the jade slip with his spiritual sense and found out that its title was “Two Hundred Years of Linghai Prefecture’s Scenery.”

Perplexed by its unexpected contents, Li Xuanfeng quickly tucked away the jade slip and exchanged parting words with Xiao Ruyu before continuing on his journey eastward.

As soon as Li Xuanfeng left the courtyard, Xiao Yongling quietly tidied up the tea set and mused to himself, “A fifteen-year-old Qi Cultivator... the Li Family truly has exceptional talents!”

“You’re absolutely right, clan uncle,” Xiao Ruyu concurred, offering his praise.

Xiao Yongling shook his head and spoke solemnly, “Our old ancestor personally met Li Tongya and bestowed pills upon him... he also instructed me to cultivate a strong relationship with the Li Family.”

“The foresight of our old ancestor surpasses our comprehension, but now he...” Xiao Yongling’s voice trailed off weakly, his expression shifting as he chuckled softly and mumbled to himself, “With old ancestor and Uncle Yuansi around, our family can thrive for at least eight hundred years...”

Exchanging a knowing glance with Xiao Ruyu, Xiao Yongling’s gaze grew more contemplative.

He sighed, his expression reflecting a strong conflict of emotions.

“Only people like our old ancestor could break through the Azure Pond Sect’s blockade and rise to prominence... He is cautious, composed, and patient, and that allowed him to protect our family’s interests. Look at how talented Yu Yuxie was, but he ended up drawing the unwanted attention of an old ancestor at the Purple Mansion Realm and met a tragic end in the southern border.”

Pausing, Xiao Yongling turned his gaze toward Xiao Ruyu and spoke with sincerity, “Ruyu, this is why our old ancestor advises you to cultivate slowly and refrain from rushing your breakthroughs within the next five years.”

“In this world, the most gifted individuals often suffer the greatest tragedies.”