Chapter 348: Prying Eyes

Chapter 348: Prying Eyes

Before Li Yuanjiao could respond to Li Xizhi, Li Yuanping smiled cordially and said, "Come, come... have a seat first. We'll wait for those two brothers from the second lineage. They're still on the mountain and will arrive shortly."

"Yes," Li Xizhi nodded, releasing Li Ximing's hand to sit beside Li Yuanjiao, who nodded at his greeting and then took a sip of tea.

The two brothers Li Yuanping referred to were naturally those from the generation of Xi and Yue from Li Tongya's lineage—Li Xicheng and Li Xijun.

Of Li Yuanyun's many heirs, only these two sons born with his primary wife had spiritual orifices and were cultivating in the mountains.

As soon as Li Yuanping had finished speaking, two people entered the hall. The first to enter was a normal-looking young man who was about sixteen or seventeen. Clad in a gray robe and carrying a spear on his back, he cupped his fist respectfully and said, "Xicheng greets the two elders."

After Li Yuanping and Li Yuanjiao responded, Li Xizhi lit up with a smile and said, "Brother Cheng!"

Li Xicheng's eyes lit up at the sight of Li Xizhi too, but in front of the elders, he hesitated to say more and merely nodded silently.

Beside him, a boy of six or seven with a handsome face raised an eyebrow and spoke softly, "Jun'er greets the elders and Brother Xiji."

Li Xijun was the youngest son of Li Yuanyun, recently confirmed to possess a spiritual orifice. He had spent only a little time with Li Yuanyun before he was sent to the marketplace at the age of one. Growing up in the mountains, he had a much cheerier disposition.

His elder brother, Li Xicheng, who had grown up by Li Yuanyun's side, was more reserved. He stood silently in the courtyard.

Li Yuanjiao observed them attentively, his eyes lingering a little longer on Li Xijun before saying, "Jun'er, you're really good-looking!"

Li Xijun appeared to be accustomed to such compliments. He merely smiled courteously and replied in a childish voice, "Thank you for the compliment, Second Uncle!"

Li Yuanping, who had also been staring at the boy, agreed with a chuckle.

"You're right... This child has the looks of an immortal cultivator. They said he was destined for cultivation even before his spiritual orifice was even confirmed, and now that he has been assessed, it's revealed that he indeed has a spiritual orifice."

Li Yuanjiao nodded with a smile as he observed the child's demeanor, his spirits noticeably lifted.

"I've gathered you juniors here this time to discuss some important matters," he began.

Setting down his tea bowl, Li Yuanjiao continued solemnly, "For many years, rumors have circulated about the demise of the Qingsui Sword Immortal. All the families on the lake have known about it by now. As direct descendants of the Li Family, you must know about this."

At the mention of Qingsui Sword Immortal, the juniors looked up, their expressions grave. Clearly, they had heard similar rumors from their parents.

Li Yuanjiao nodded and confirmed, "The Sword Immortal has indeed passed away..."

The atmosphere grew somber as heads bowed in acknowledgment. Li Yuanjiao said softly, "News of the Sword Immortal's passing has circulated throughout the sect. With our loss of support within the sect and lack of access to information, we only fear vulnerability to exploitation. Hence, I've requested the Qingsui Peak Master to come... Li Xizhi!"

"I'm here," Li Xizhi responded respectfully, stepping forward.

Li Yuanjiao continued, "The clan wishes for you to join the sect and train under Qingsui Peak. Become the pillar of protection for our family, and establish your immortal foundation... Do you understand?"

The coverage of his divine sense now extended across the entire Moongaze Lake, including the Yu and Fei families, among others...

"Well, it's not stealing if it's presented right before my eyes!" he mumbled to himself.

He closed the Long Brocade Heart Sutra in his hand and looked at the other glowing points on the jade table—Jade True Dao Unification Technique Manual, Aged Courtly Path Scripture, Refining Basic Dharma Artifacts On Lake, Talisman Essence Decree, and Introduction to Alchemy...

"That's a lot of legacies!"

The Yu Family had once seized the Jiang Family's legacies years ago, inheriting numerous books, records, as well as alchemy and dharma artifact recipes.

Unfortunately, there were not many high-grade cultivation techniques. The Li Family already had the Grade Four Aged Courtly Path Scripture, which could serve even a Purple Mansion Realm cultivator well if in their possession.

As outer disciples of the immortal mansion, the Jiang Family only possessed a few high-grade cultivation techniques. Aside from the Grade Three technique manual known as Gazing Sea Chasing Mountains, which could build an immortal foundation known as Fool's Mountain Chase, the rest were mostly Grade Three cultivation techniques of similar metallic essence.

It was clear that the Moonlight Origin Mansion had left the cultivation paths of the Purple Mansion Realm for its outer disciples, and the families around the lake had five or six cultivation techniques that could be useful up to the Foundational Establishment Realm.

Compared to the Embryonic Breathing Realm cultivators in the Mushroom Forest Plain who were forced to use common Grade One cultivation techniques, these families were indeed lucky.

"Seems like I, Lu Jiangxian, was a nice man in my previous life..." He chuckled self-deprecatingly as he organized the Dao lineages.

"Jade Court General, Azure Jade Cliff, True Dao Unification, Patterned Brocade...

Just missing one more..." he mumbled.

Lu Jiangxian pondered for a moment, contemplating the deaths of both Yu Yufeng and Fei Wangbai.

Daoist Master Shangyuan is probably the next person to break through to the Golden Core Realm... The metallic essence he sought after is likely this one.

With these thoughts, Lu Jiangxian set aside all these cultivation techniques which he had deemed as dangerous, then picked out three artifact forging, one alchemy, and six talisman secret techniques.

He also picked out two from the remaining Grade Three cultivation techniques—the Fei Family's Cold Pine Dew Snow Technique Manual and the Yu Family's Gazing Sea Chasing Mountains Technique Manual.

"I'll find an excuse to give out these items," he continued mumbling to himself.

After pondering for a while, he mused to himself, "Since the Li Family no longer has a Foundation Establishment Realm cultivator, the talisman seeds from the mirror should also be decreased from nine to six to match the Li Family's speculations."

Lu Jiangxian struggled briefly. After all, the talisman seeds had gradually increased in number over time, deliberately timed by Lu Jiangxian to coincide with Li Tongya's increased strength.

At that time, Li Tongya had assumed that the talisman seeds increased with the holder's strength. Now that Li Yuanjiao wielded the mirror, the number of talisman seeds should logically also change accordingly.

Lu Jiangxian mulled over this briefly before releasing five talisman seeds in the end, inwardly coming to his own conclusion.

"Never mind. Li Yuanjiao is a smart man, he'll likely find an explanation for this himself."