Chapter 447: Li Fire Spear (II)

Chapter 447: Li Fire Spear (II)

Li Qinghong reflected a moment before saying, "Kong Yu mentioned that disciples from the three sects and seven gates were barred from entering for three years... Now, those three years have elapsed."

Li Xuanxuan exhaled, grasping the unspoken implications, and responded, "You mean... Chu Yi is most dangerous before completing his foundation establishment...? Once he completes it and opens the Eastern Fire Grotto Heaven, things will stabilize...?"

Li Qinghong nodded slowly, adding softly, "I've considered Kong Yu's story. I find it hard to believe that this reincarnation is merely the Golden Core True Monarch's amusement... Just consider the Daoist Masters of Jiangnan—all of them are insightful and cunning. Do you think the Golden Core True Monarch, above the Purple Mansion Realm, would truly descend to the mortal world for amusement? Isn't such a reincarnated form inherently fragile?"

Li Xuanxuan nodded thoughtfully as Li Qinghong continued, "From a Qi Cultivator's perspective, things may appear one way, but from the vantage of the Purple Mansion or even the Golden Core Realm, it's entirely different..."

"Although there are Purple Mansion Realm immortals, none established sects. Why was the Kong Family destroyed overnight, allowing Daoist Master Changxi to swiftly establish the Profound Peak Gate and secure a position in Yue State?" she added.

Chills ran down Li Xuanxuan's spine as he stammered, "Could it be Changxi... T-That's..."

Li Qinghong replied softly, "This situation is a disgrace in the eyes of the Kong Family... How do you know if it isn't Daoist Master Changxi's maneuvering?!"

Li Xuanxuan broke out in a cold sweat but urged, "Carry on..."

Li Qinghong hummed in response and continued softly, "I suspect that although the meteoric rise of the Li Fire Spear is portrayed as the True Monarch's reincarnation among the mortals, he's actually orchestrating something beneath the surface. The Eastern Fire Grotto Heaven likely serves as the reward he promised to the three sects... Meanwhile, the seven gates are merely kept informed, privy to the knowledge but not the power."

Li Xuanxuan nodded in realization and sighed.

"As for the rogue cultivators, they only see the surface, believing it to be Chu Yi's genius ascent... Had Kong Yu not informed me, my family would also remain oblivious..."

After piecing together their thoughts, Li Qinghong pursed her lips and added, "As for why Kong Yu confided in you, uncle... it seems he was extending an olive branch to our family. The Kong Family of Profound Peak Gate clearly harbors favorable intentions toward us."

Li Xuanxuan hesitated before whispering, "But still... Is there any way for our Li Family to profit from this?"

————

Meanwhile at the Azure Pond Sect...

The bamboo forest on Qingsui Peak swayed gently in the breeze. Standing amidst it, Li Xizhi's true essence radiated a faint purple-red glow, casting its hue on the bamboo shoots around him.

He practiced the Dawn Dew Gathering Technique, a Grade Four technique including six spells and three secret arts, ranging from the intricate footwork of Dawn Imperial Movement to the powerful spell Gold In Cloud, along with other escape spells and various techniques.

Although it had only been two years since Li Xizhi broke through to the Qi Cultivation Realm, he was already capable of beating three or four early-stage rogue Qi Cultivators single-handedly.

After a brief calculation, Li Xizhi replied, "Probably just you and me."

"I see..." Yang Xiaoer said as she nodded, her expression turning resolute as she gazed directly at him.

Though not particularly striking, Yang Xiaoer had made an effort with her appearance, managing to look quite pretty. She raised her eyebrows and spoke with a hint of nervousness, "Senior brother, being from the sword immortal clans, you are handsome and talented. Xiao'er fears she isn't a suitable match for him. Although I've considered it... I don't wish to waste time."

Taken aback, Li Xizhi listened as she continued softly, "Xiao'er has been on this peak for two years... Senior Brother has never truly seen me... My talents are modest and my looks are plain. If Senior Brother is interested, I will dedicate my life to supporting him. If not, I will ask my father to annul our marriage."

Li Xizhi, surprised by her frankness, stared at her in silence before responding in a serious tone, "Xizhi is not such a person. Since we have shared our wedding wine, we are bound as husband and wife for life, with no second thoughts. The past two years were solely to strengthen our cultivation..."

He smiled shyly and added, "Moreover, I feared you might think... I was too frivolous."

Yang Xiao'er had braced herself for a range of reactions, but she had not anticipated such a response. Stunned for a moment by his sincerity, she stepped forward and kissed him on the cheek.

Without hesitation, she pulled a white dharma robe with black patterns from her storage pouch and offered it to him.

"This is the robe I requested from my clan. It can protect my life in critical moments. Please accept it, Senior Brother..."

Li Xizhi's face was tinged red and before he could recover from the surprise, a snowy white robe was presented to him.

"How could I possibly accept such a lavish gift... and this is a mid-quality Qi Cultivation Realm feather robe?!"

Feather armors were rare treasures. The Li Family possessed only one piece of Embryonic Breathing Realm jade armor, which was long since bestowed upon Li Qinghong as a treasured heirloom.

Now, holding such a precious dharma robe, Li Xizhi felt as if he was clutching a fortune in Spirit Stones.

This is worth two hundred Spirit Stones! No... possibly three hundred?

Yang Xiao'er gently pushed the robe into his hands and said with a smile, "This was part of my dowry from my father..."

"You..."

Li Xizhi looked into her eyes, which sparkled with joy, yet he felt a pang of melancholy.

She's so innocent and genuinely devoted to me...