Chapter 409: Settling (I)

Chapter 409: Settling (I)

"Yu Xiaogui is dead."

Li Yuanjiao had heard many rumors and lived through the death of his family's ancestor. With a quick glance, he instantly grasped the situation at hand.

The two families had a blood feud, and Li Yuanjiao, feeling no sorrow, sighed in relief that the turmoil was finally settling.

"Fei Wangbai fell to an unknown swordsman. He fell with just a single attack... Yu Xiaogui met his end at the hands of my granduncle, armed with only a Huashang Fruit and his Qingche Sword... It took just a single strike too. The Three Foundation Establishment Realm cultivators of the lake are now all dead..."

The Azure Pond Sect would not ease its grip on prestigious clans just because their Foundation Establishment Realm cultivators had fallen. The tributes that were due would still be demanded under the guise of honoring past legacies. These families would still be labeled a prestigious clan for another fifty years so that the sect could drain all their remaining resources before discarding them for good.

Should a few more Foundation Establishment Realm cultivators emerge in the Li Family or annex additional territories, their required tributes would undoubtedly increase, mirroring the substantial offerings made by the Yuan Family, who paid far more than the Li Family.

The scene of Yu Xiaogui's death was strikingly magnificent, with jade scattered all across the ground. Li Yuanjiao observed in silence, then left the cave to survey the Yu Family's territory for a while.

Under the Yu Family's governance, conditions had significantly improved over the years. Now, at least, their subjects led decent lives. Despite Yu Mugao's sinister and brutal nature, his bold reforms to the clan system and his elevation of commoners not born into the family all led to positive progress.

Understanding the situation, Li Yuanjiao put away the mirror. As the familiar stone wall of his cave dwelling came back into view, he murmured, "Chi Buzi's visit has indeed unsettled my family... The long-term consequences of it are still unclear."

The day's events had caused frustration to accumulate within him. Li Yuanjiao took the Qingche Sword from its place and started practicing his sword techniques.

It was not until he had practiced for half the day that he felt the mounting pressures begin to dissipate, and he sensed a slight improvement in his skills.

Sitting cross-legged, he began to clean the sword. At that moment, a man in brown robes and a jade crown approached, his face breaking into a broad, respectful smile.

"Clan Brother! Clan Brother! Good news!"

It was none other than Shamoli. Despite being older than Li Yuanjiao, he had learned the ways of the world and preferred addressing Li Yuanjiao as his clan brother with familiarity.

"Clan Brother! There's good news from Lijing! Daoist Master Chuting has appeared in Mount Yu and vanquished dozens of devil cultivators lurking over there! He has already returned to Xianyou Peak... The devil cultivators in the Xiao Family's territory have scattered, fleeing in all directions!"

Xiao Chuting has returned!

Li Yuanjiao silently sighed in relief, a smile breaking across his face.

Li Yuanping's interest was instantly piqued.

The man continued, "These two brothers are the sons of Master An... They are also part of the Li Family."

He motioned, and two teenagers, about thirteen or fourteen years old, stepped forward. Dressed in cloaks with their hair neatly tied back, they wore gold bracelets on their wrists and had round faces with dark eyes.

Both bowed formally as they greeted him respectfully.

"An Siwei greets the Family Head!"

"An Siming greets the Family Head!"

They were the only children of An Zheyan and Li Feiruo. The siblings both possessed spiritual orifices and had attained the fourth stage of the Embryonic Breathing Realm by the ages of thirteen and fourteen!

However, their aura seemed unsteady, indicating they had only recently achieved this breakthrough. Nevertheless, their progress still astounded everyone.

Li Yuanping studied them intently and suddenly exclaimed in surprise, "Both of you... are cultivating the

Guardian of the Courtly Path technique?!"

Both brothers nodded, prompting Li Yuanping to secretly sigh in relief.

No wonder they've advanced so quickly... The Guardian of the Courtly Path is known for accelerating progress in the Embryonic Breathing Realm while slowing Qi Cultivation; but it's impressive nonetheless.

Although they can't match An Jingming's progress at fourteen, they're still better than many of our external cultivators. Not just the Chen Clan, but their speed also matched even those in my family who have received a talisman seed!

He shook his head and stated firmly, "Given your current level of cultivation, I don't have any responsibilities for you."

The other siblings and the An brothers were dismayed upon hearing Li Yuanping's statement. Li Yuanping, however, continued, "I'll write a letter to find a cave dwelling on Mount Huazhong for you two to focus on your cultivation so you can swiftly achieve the Qi Cultivation Realm... The clan will have significant duties for you by then!"

"Yes!"

The brothers readily responded, clearly elated upon hearing this.

Li Yuanping immediately wrote the letter. The An brothers accepted it and respectfully withdrew.