Chapter 154: Ding Xiding

Chapter 154: Ding Xiding

As dawn gently illuminated the sky, the bare trees among the mountains were now covered with sparkling morning frost.

Li Tongya had returned to Mount Lijing. Thanks to the superior recovery abilities granted by the Deep Ocean Long Whale Talisman, the true essence within his body was quickly and fully restored.

After completing his breathing exercises, Li Tongya closed his eyes to scan his surroundings. It had already been a year since he had broken through to the sixth heavenly layer of the Qi Cultivation Realm, and his cultivation had been stagnant since then, with little progress.

The latter three heavenly layers of the Qi Cultivation Realm are all about accumulating and building progress... It's not possible to break through within a short term. It probably needs another five to six years of effort!

While he was thinking these thoughts, the patterns of the Sun Rite Profound Light Formation suddenly lit up.

Li Tongya's expression immediately turned serious as a booming voice reverberated from outside the formation.

"Ding Xiding of the Ding family from Mushroom Forest Plain has come to visit... I request a meeting with Brother Tongya!"

Li Tongya raised an eyebrow and looked out to see an old man with thick eyebrows and a rugged face standing outside, holding a staff and closely examining the formation below. The old man was at the peak of the Qi Cultivation Realm.

"The Ding Family is the family the An Family has invited from Mushroom Forest Plain to take over Mount Tiaoyun, to counterbalance the Yu Family and our Li Family... They are quite polite to have come to visit so soon after taking charge of the mountain!" Li Tongya muttered grumpily to himself.

With just a thought, the formation had opened to allow for a small entrance. Li Tongya cupped his fist and politely greeted, "Li Tongya of the Li Family from Lijing greets Senior!"

"Ah! Please, no need to be so formal..." Ding Xiding said as he waved his hand and landed on Mount Lijing.

Looking at Li Tongya, he praised, "The reputation of Qingsui Sword Immortal precedes him. This mountain is indeed blessed to have nurtured such a genius!"

Ding Xiding was a smooth talker. He knew that praising Mount Lijing as a blessed immortal land would sound insincere, so he changed his approach and decided to praise the sword immortal instead.

He cupped his fist once more.

"Congratulations to Brother Tongya for expanding eastward and securing a blessed mountain beyond this perilous position!"

Li Tongya smiled softly and responded, "The Ding Family has also acquired new territory. Congratulations, congratulations! This way please... let's continue inside."

The two families had just divided the Lu Family's territories.

He began considering and scheming on how to contact some friends of the Foundation Establishment Realm and Yuan Family allies to strike at the Yu Family.

Seeing Ding Xiding deep in thought, Li Tongya smiled without distracting him. After a long pause, Ding Xiding finally looked up, looking apologetic. "I was lost in thought, please forgive me, Brother Tongya!" he said sheepishly.

"Don't worry about it," Li Tongya replied with a small chuckle.

After exchanging a few more words, Ding Xiding took his leave. Li Tongya saw him off and then sat back down, looking at the map of Moongaze Lake on the table.

He touched the corner where Mount Huaqian was and murmured, "With this territory, my Li Family can have another thirty years of peaceful development... Let them fight among themselves for now!"

After saying this with a slight smile, he saw the courtyard door gently open, and Li Xuanling stepped in. He walked respectfully up to him and cupped his fist.

"Father."

"What is it?" Li Tongya asked as his gaze lingered on the map, his voice soft.

"It's about... the talisman seeds," Li Xuanling began, recounting his earlier thoughts softly. When he mentioned the potential for fraternal strife, Li Xuanling could clearly see his father pause momentarily.

After finishing his explanation, it took several moments before Li Tongya nodded and said in a deep voice, "What you're considering is to be taken seriously indeed..."

After looking up at him, Li Tongya had an expression of pride.

"You have a good grasp of the situation which is commendable...but that's still not enough. Have you thought of a solution?"

Li Xuanling pondered for a few moments before answering, "In my opinion, the best solution would be to divide the talisman seeds equally among the four branches, allowing each branch to receive one. Unfortunately, we do not have enough talisman seeds. Thus, we may only select the best candidates to receive the talisman seeds. When the eldest sons and those with spiritual orifice of the branches come of age, we can compare and choose the owners of the remaining two talisman seeds..."

After listening to Li Xuanling, Li Tongya shook his head and said, "You're still young and your view isn't far-reaching enough. Even if we had enough talisman seeds for each generation, allowing the four branches to divide them equally would only lead to the branches drifting apart, creating barriers that might cause competition between them in their quest for the talisman seeds."

Pausing slightly to gather his thoughts, Li Tongya continued, "The most feared scenario in managing a clan is making the divisions too clear; the branches should be unified! From each generation, select the most exceptional child to be given a talisman seed. Only one seed will be granted per generation. If you give away both now, what will we do twenty years later when the generation of Yuan and Qing gives birth to the generation of Xi and Yue, and a truly exceptional talent emerges? There'll be no talisman seed to be granted to them then."

After saying this and gesturing slightly with his hand, Li Xuanling nodded eagerly, saying respectfully, "I see... That is enlightening!"

After thinking for a few moments, Li Xuanling then voiced his confusion, "But... how do we determine who this exceptional child is?"

Li Tongya smiled at this and whispered, "Isn't that simple? Blindfold them all, block their hearing, and have them kneel in front of the mirror. Then, we shall see who receives the talisman seed! The chosen one shall be then referred to as the Auspicious Child!"