Chapter 138

Li Tongya was only forty-five this year, younger than most of the people present. His cultivation at the fifth level of Qi Condensation was already outstanding. Even Lu Sisi, who was one hundred and eighty-seven, was only at the seventh level of Qi Condensation, so everyone naturally called him senior.

Cupping his hands toward the family heads, Li Tongya returned his sword to its sheath and returned to his seat gracefully. Yu Xiaogui's expression cleared slightly, and he nodded, saying:

These words attributed Yu Mujian's lack of skill to the Li family's better swordsmanship, rather than the Yu family being inferior to the Li family. Hearing this, Li Tongya gave a light laugh and let him say what he wanted, only wishing he could be even more low-key, so that the families would only guard against the Yu and Fei families.

"After all, Lu Sisi doesn't have many years to live. The An family and the Lu family have been allies for generations. Once Lu Sisi passes away, the subtle face and balance of the three families will be broken in an instant, which is exactly my Li family's opportunity. Before that, the calmer the situation, the better; don't cause any extra trouble."

The Yu family's goal had been achieved, and they had also probed Li Tongya's sword path cultivation. Yu Xiaogui waved his hand and found an excuse to take his leave. The families present also left the banquet one by one. Li Tongya deliberately avoided Lu Sisi and returned to the south bank alone.

Riding the wind, leaping over the clear and transparent lake surface, Li Tongya thought to himself and muttered:

After flying south for a while, Li Tongya landed on a small island. After waiting for more than ten breaths, he really saw a middle-aged man in brocade and white robes coming from far to near. He landed on the island with a smile, his demeanor graceful and romantic. It was the Fei family head.

"Brother Tongya! What a coincidence! I am Fei Wangbai, a cultivator of the Fei family. I have long admired your great name."

Fei Wangbai looked to be in his forties, but in reality, he was over a hundred years old. The jade pendant at his waist jingled as he looked at Li Tongya. Seeing that this person was steady and introverted and quite reliable, the smile on his face became a bit softer.

"Long admired, long admired. Senior is too polite."

How could Li Tongya dare to be arrogant and let a Foundation Establishment cultivator call him brother? He hurriedly called Fei Wangbai senior. Seeing Fei Wangbai twist his beard and smile:

"Excluding an old rogue cultivator on the west bank, there are three Foundation Establishment cultivators on this lake. The Yu family occupies two—Yu Xiaogui at the early stage of Foundation Establishment and the 'White Jade Hand' Yu Yufeng at the late stage of Foundation Establishment. I am just a nameless person who only broke through to Foundation Establishment twenty years ago. How can I be called senior!"

The intention of Fei Wangbai's words was obvious, and both knew it well. Seeing Li Tongya smile slightly, Fei Wangbai continued:

"Among the Yu family juniors, Yu Mujian has courage and values relationships, becoming Qi Condensation at forty. Yu Mugao and others are sharp and ruthless. None of them are fools, which makes us very envious..."

"This junior understands."

Li Tongya nodded, thought for a moment, changed the subject, and said in a deep voice:

"According to senior, the situation on the Kong Kong Guli Road is so chaotic now. Can the Yu family's market open smoothly?"

Fei Wangbai shook his head and said with a smile:

"This matter is not easy to handle. I have a Foundation Establishment cultivator friend in the prefecture who heard him say that a group of thieves is roaming the Kong Kong Guli Road. If Yu Yufeng sits in town himself, it's fine. If Yu Yufeng encounters something and leaves the market, I'm afraid something will happen."

Li Tongya's heart instantly became clear, and he understood the plan of Fei Wangbai and the others, but he did not want to get involved in it, fearing that Fei Wangbai would misunderstand, so he hurriedly said:

"It's a pity that this junior's swordsmanship is too conspicuous, and I fear being envied by others, otherwise I would like to go and assist."

"That won't be necessary."

Fei Wangbai laughed. Seeing Li Tongya say he wanted to assist but not clarify whether it was to assist the Yu family or the robbers, he knew that the Li family also quite supported this matter. Finally, he opened the skylight to speak brightly and nodded:

"The Yu family is strong now. If the families cannot produce another Foundation Establishment cultivator, I am afraid they will be eroded and perish one by one in the next hundred years. Although the Li family has the protection of the Sword Immortal and the Yu family dares not covet it, things are unpredictable, so remember the principle that if the lips are gone, the teeth will be cold..."

Li Tongya cupped his hands, no longer hiding anything, and said sternly:

The two looked at each other and smiled, said goodbye, and returned to their homes.

————

The cultivators on the ship had all dispersed. Yu family young master Yu Mugao took his two cousins, one tall and one fat, into the cabin. He saw a large chair placed high in the spacious cabin, and Yu Xiaogui sat on it with his head lowered. Seeing Yu Mugao enter the door, he said in a deep voice:

"Come here."

Yu Mugao stepped forward a few steps. Seeing Yu Xiaogui staring at the wooden floor with a somewhat gloomy expression, he suddenly asked:

"What is the origin of Mujian's sword! Have you sent anyone to ask?"

"This child also had doubts and has already asked the fourth brother."

Yu Mugao had anticipated this and replied:

"That sword is a Qi Condensation-level magic tool, originally obtained when the ancestor wiped out the Lingyu Sect. The sword body is simple, and the material used is also unremarkable. There has never been any secret."

"Oh?"

Yu Xiaogui's brows relaxed. He raised his palm slightly and muttered:

"It seems I thought too much."

"That Li Tongya!"

"That Li Tongya..."

The father and son opened their mouths at the same time and then stopped abruptly. Yu Xiaogui nodded in appreciation. The look in his eyes when he looked at Yu Mugao was quite gratified. His fingers resting on the seat lifted slightly, and he opened his mouth:

"You speak!"

Yu Mugao nodded, and only then said in a deep voice:

"This Li Tongya is steady and introverted, hiding his weapons on his body, just like... just like a black-scaled snake coiled in a corner. Father, don't look at him as quiet and quite respectful; this person is definitely not an easy character. If we underestimate him, we will probably suffer a big loss."

Yu Xiaogui raised his head in surprise and gently put down the teacup in his hand. He also valued Li Tongya, but Yu Mugao's evaluation of Li Tongya was much higher than he imagined. After thinking for a few breaths, he replied:

"How do you think we should deal with this person?"

"While he hasn't reached Foundation Establishment yet, we should use force to suppress him, lure him out, and secretly kill him. As long as no one knows, without this variable, Wangyue Lake will be ours sooner or later!"

Yu Mugao's expression was ruthless, and he gritted his teeth. Yu Xiaogui shook his head, his expression somewhat strange, and said sternly:

Yu Mugao's expression stagnated, and he nodded somewhat unwillingly, cupping his hands:

"It was this child who was reckless!"

"Even if we can't deal with Li Tongya, we must curb the Li family's rise."

Yu Xiaogui added tea and said with a smile:

"When the market matter is settled and we have time, we will design to kill a few Li family juniors, so that the Li family will have a break in generations, just like the ancestor dealt with the Wan family back then. Secretly design for decades. By the time Wan Huaqian realized it, he was already unable to take care of both ends and had to go into seclusion to forcibly break through to Foundation Establishment, finally ending up with death and family decline."

"Exactly!"

Yu Mugao was also full of smiles and muttered:

"The Li family at this time is the Wan family of that time, and my Yu family is now even stronger. Back then, we secretly coerced the Wan family's Qi Condensation cultivators and secretly protected the Ji family... Now it is the turn of the An and Lu families..."

"By the way, Gao'er, there is one thing I want to ask you."

Yu Xiaogui suddenly put down the teacup in his hand and said in a deep voice:

"I heard that the An family has produced a genius named An Jingming, who became Qi Condensation at fourteen. This is amazing!"

Yu Mugao's expression also became serious, and he said in a deep voice:

"Father, don't worry. This child has long sent people to watch. As soon as An Jingming leaves the An family, I will get the news immediately. The An family will not have the opportunity to produce a Foundation Establishment cultivator."

Only then did Yu Xiaogui nod and say with a smile:

"I am at ease with you handling things."