Chapter 319: Leaving The Cave

Chapter 319: Leaving The Cave

"Fate..." Li Yuanjiao muttered to himself as Li Tongya sheathed his sword, fastening the Qingche Sword to his waist for the first time. With a serious expression, he said, "Yuanjiao... the family will need your care from now on. If I go and do not return, you must lower your head and endure for a while. With the Xiao Family supporting us, at worst, we can cede Mount Huazhong and Mount Yuting; it is of no great consequence."

Li Yuanjiao felt as though the sky was darkening and the world was collapsing around him. He said hoarsely, "Ancestor... the family... the family cannot do without you!"

Li Tongya slowly shook his head and spoke gently, "Xuanling is likely beyond saving, and Xuanfeng is stuck at the southern border. Let your father manage the marketplace; he should not come back and complicate matters..."

"You, Yuanxiu, and Yuanping are all capable of managing the family. You must be cautious... Qinghong is still in seclusion and does not need to be called out. She acts too hastily, pursuing immortality single-mindedly, which could lead to her downfall. Make sure she acts with caution!"

Seeing that Li Yuanjiao was listening attentively, Li Tongya nodded and advised, "Once this matter is settled, there should be many peaceful days ahead. After the death of the Yu Family's ancestor and the collapse of their marketplace, Yu Muxian, despite having many connections within the sect, remained passive and did not even utter a word. He doesn't seem to care much for his clan and is unlikely to offend the Xiao Family. You needn't worry about him."

"Yes... Jiao'er will keep your words in mind," Li Yuanjiao replied. His eyes shone brightly as he asked, "Ancestor, what about the Azure Pond Sect?"

At the mention of this name, Li Tongya's expression turned complex. He said softly, "The Azure Pond Sect has entrenched itself in Jiangnan for hundreds of years. Its background is far deeper than we can see, with intricate interests and ruthless methods of suppression and slaughter. It is not something that can be opposed in a single lifetime. Yuan Huyuan was right; we must climb onto the Azure Pond's table rather than fall into its bowl. However, my generation has an unresolvable blood feud with Azure Pond, making reconciliation impossible. After I am gone, you must send our descendants into the sect. Even if they become servants or sacrifices, it is the only way for the family to secure a future!"

Tears fell silently as Li Yuanjiao nodded. Li Tongya grasped his hand, his gray hair fluttering lightly in the wind. Then, with a somber tone, he continued, "Remember, do not perform blood sacrifices, do not massacre innocents, and do not indulge in evil desires..."

Beside him, Li Yuanping's eyes were already red, unable to control himself any longer. Li Tongya took his thin arm, and a glow of mana appeared in his hand, erasing the bruises on Li Yuanping's arm. Feeling somewhat guilty, he said, "If our family had any precious elixirs to mend your root bones, you would not have to suffer this way..."

"Waaah..." Li Yuanping could not hold back anymore and began to cry hoarsely. Li Yuanjiao bit his lip, holding back his tears as he stood.

Li Tongya looked into his eyes and said softly, "If Yuanyun proves to be useless, do not indulge him. If he dares to engage in any murderous blood sacrifices, kill him."

Li Yuanjiao nodded, a glimmer of understanding flashing across his eyes. Despite never having left the mountain, his granduncle seemed to know everything about the world below. Li Yuanping, stifling his sobs and looking up with a flush of excitement on his pale face, said solemnly, "Rest assured, Granduncle. As long as Yuanjiao and I are here, the family will not fall into chaos!"

"Erecting a tombstone for myself is quite a gloomy task... Better leave it for future generations..." he said.

With that, he took to the wind again, drifting northward.

————

On the banks of the great river...

An old man quietly untangled a mass of nets on a large rock. Li Xuanling had headed north several days ago, but the old man was not worried about him secretly fleeing. He continued to silently pull at his fishing net by the riverbank.

"The serpent dragon has emerged from its cave."

A man dressed in hemp clothes leisurely approached from below, carrying a white jade fishing rod on his shoulder. He stopped beside the old man and said gently, "Senior Si, it is time for us to leave as well!"

The old man glanced at him but did not respond to his words. Instead, he smiled and said, "The dark clouds are gathering... Xiao Xianyou is quite the meticulous planner. Everything has been prepared for you, and even the timing is impeccable. One cannot help but be impressed!"

Xiao Chuting looked at him deeply without speaking, then silently sat down to wait. The old man sighed and said, "If Xiao Xianyou had not been harmed by Chi Wei, he would have been a Golden Core seed."

Upon hearing this, Xiao Chuting finally spoke. "Senior, you jest. I heard that a Molten Metal Cave has emerged within your sect. That's quite rare. What made you decide to meddle with the Dao lineage of the Central Plains?"

"Nothing of the sort, just an external disciple." The Purple Mansion Realm elder surnamed Si shook his head nonchalantly and said, "A young fellow in the sect managed to cultivate it. The Dao Partners of Molten Metal Cave have been completely lost. Even if he succeeded, he would only reach early-stage Purple Mansion Realm, cut off from further progress. You need not be concerned."

Before long, radiant lights began to emerge by the riverbank. Various Purple Mansion Realm cultivators appeared one by one, some elegant and ethereal, others with sharp gazes and shimmering with divine light. A total of seven beams of light descended. Only then did the old man stand up shakily and say softly, "Since everyone is here, let us proceed together!"