Chapter 335: Guests from Afar

Li Li Jiman came to Mount Lijing Town on a horse and returned to Wutuo City lying in a carriage. The clan soldiers of the Li family who executed the punishment were Qi Condensation cultivators. Even though he had cultivation, it was useless, and he was still beaten until his skin was torn and his flesh was ripped.

Several clan elders of the Clan Justice Court who were not smiling discussed for a while and gave an evaluation of "negligence of duty, indulgence of noble surnames," which not only beat Li Li Jiman back and forth seventy times but also beat Li Li Jiman's face until it went pop-pop.

The Tian family naturally also rushed to the Clan Justice Court. Tian Tian Zhongqing stepped forward to apologize repeatedly. Li Li Jiman smiled and let it go, but Tian Tian Zhongqing felt cold behind his back.

And the Clan Justice Court on the other side and the main hall of Li Brother Yuanping did not have any instructions for his family, which still made them break out in a cold sweat.

As the family head of the Tian family at the center of the storm, Tian Tian Zhongqing felt a breath stuck in his throat. The joy of breaking through to Qi Condensation vanished, and he returned to East East Shanyue overnight, smashing a courtyard full of porcelain in anger, and had to stop his uncle Tian Tian Youdao from slapping Tian Rong to death.

"Get out! You beast!"

With Tian Tian Youdao's roar, Tian Rong covered his swollen cheek and went down. Tian Tian Zhongqing really didn't want to stop Tian Tian Youdao in his heart, wanting to slap Tian Rong to death simply and neatly...

But the old man only slapped Tian Rong until he staggered, so Tian Tian Zhongqing knew that his uncle still loved this only son. He accompanied him to finish the play and said in a deep voice:

"Uncle... what should we do!"

Tian Tian Youdao was also an old man of the Li family, from Qi Condensation to Foundation Establishment, with a very high seniority in the clan. Hearing this, he let out a long breath and said in a muffled voice:

"Li Li Jiman is narrow-minded and has long been dissatisfied with our family. Now that this has happened, the hatred has deepened..."

The uncle and nephew were both Foundation Establishment cultivators. Their family was the largest external force of the Li family, always cautious. They didn't expect that Tian Tian Zhongqing would go into seclusion and Tian Tian Youdao would go out, and Tian Rong would run out, causing such a bad result.

Tian Tian Zhongqing sighed and whispered:

"Clearly it was ordered, how could he run out? Now Li Li Jiman has the support of many East Shanyue nobles... If there are any changes in the future..."

Tian Tian Youdao sat at the head. He was over seventy years old and had seen many things. He was already secretly calculating while stroking his beard, and said thoughtfully:

"This matter is strange. I will go and ask the Family Head, open up the words, and if the clan wants to do something, we will cooperate!"

Tian Tian Youdao was, after all, Li Li Xuanfeng's maternal uncle, with high seniority in the clan, and had the qualifications to say this. Tian Tian Zhongqing couldn't help but secretly sigh when he saw his uncle:

"Only Uncle can say this in the clan..."

"Tian Zhongqing!"

Tian Tian Youdao called out in a low voice. Tian Tian Zhongqing hurriedly raised his head. The uncle and nephew looked at each other. Tian Tian Youdao was full of solemnity and said in a deep voice:

"You should know... our family's power and status seem to be because our uncle and nephew broke through to Foundation Establishment one after another, and the Tian family has produced spiritual apertures, becoming the backbone and gaining the trust of the main family, restricting East Shanyue, but Tian Zhongqing..."

He looked at his nephew and whispered:

"You must know that our family's power and status depend solely on me!"

Tian Tian Zhongqing nodded heavily. He had also been a man with a family and career for many years, with many offspring, much more mature, and said in a muffled voice:

"The Ren and Dou families are tied to the Zhong branch. Now that there is Young Master Li Ximing, they are following him with eager eyes. The Liu family has declined, and the Xu family is dedicated to being a pure minister in the army, not sticking to the east or west, but there is nothing to worry about."

"And my Tian family..."

Tian Tian Youdao was Li Li Xuanfeng's maternal uncle. The Tian family had always been headed by the Zhong branch. But Li Li Xuanfeng went to Yishan City in the Southern Border and had no offspring, which left the Tian family without support.

Li Li Xuanfeng said he was stationed in Yishan City, but how many people who went to this city could return? Everyone didn't say it, only thinking he would never return. The other noble families had no feeling, but the Tian family was secretly drumming in their hearts.

"Not bad."

Tian Tian Youdao shook his head and replied:

Tian Tian Zhongqing hesitated for a moment and whispered:

"Uncle, what do you think of... the eldest young master?"

Among the Li Ximing generation of the Li family, Li Li Xicheng was the eldest, the eldest young master; Li Li Xizhi was the third; Li Li Ximing and Li Li Xijun were the seventh and eighth respectively. The remaining one daughter and three sons were all mortals and were not counted after being sent down the mountain.

Li Li Xicheng was governing affairs in East Shanyue, the only young master of the Li family who went down the mountain. Tian Tian Zhongqing had many contacts with him and understood him, explaining:

"The eldest young master is very elegant, generous, and friendly. If the Tian family marries a daughter to him as a concubine, and I then wholeheartedly associate with him and lean toward the Zhong branch, perhaps I can find a big tree."

"The Zhong branch once declined and had no maternal family to help, it is really the best choice!"

Tian Tian Youdao sipped his tea and replied:

"You go and try it, first build a good relationship. I see he has elegance but lacks toughness, he is a good one to cling to. If you can gain his trust, you will be worry-free for several generations."

────

In the hall with many guards, Li Brother Yuanping, in brocade robes, sat cross-legged. White light appeared on the prayer mat under him, helping him concentrate and avoid interference.

"Family Head! A letter from the road in the west."

The clan soldier who came up from below whispered, seeing Li Brother Yuanping cultivating in the hall, he didn't dare to step forward for a time.

Li Brother Yuanping had been quite relaxed recently, and he had time to cultivate. Although the gains were meager, it was better than nothing.

"Bring it up."

Li Brother Yuanping exhaled, reached out to take the letter, used a specific magic method to unlock the secret letter, and unfolded it to read:

"Donghe has arrived at the desert in the west, this place is called Guyan Desert. The two followers are respectful and have no incidents. There are many passes in this place. We are staying at Guyan Temple under the rule of the Jin Yu Sect. The three of us will work together, and we can obtain the Qi and return in seven years."

"Good!"

Seeing that there was a way to collect the 【Golden Yang Brilliant Origin】 in the west, Li Brother Yuanping was overjoyed. He looked at the small letter in his hand and wondered:

"Where did this come from?"

"Reporting to the Family Head."

The clan soldier replied:

"It was brought by a miscellaneous Qi merchant on the road."

Li Brother Yuanping nodded in realization, took pen and ink to write a big "Good," and wrote some encouraging and grateful words, sealed it with his own magic seal, and threw it into Dou Yi's hands:

"Reward him with some spiritual rice and let him take it back."

Communication in this world was not so troublesome. Not to mention ancient times, I heard that there were things like sound transmission talismans a thousand years ago, but for some reason, this type of talisman either lost its effect or the cost was high, and few people used it.

Withdrawing his thoughts, Li Brother Yuanping put his attention back on the family affairs.

"East Shanyue is easy to handle."

Li Brother Yuanping had long been dissatisfied with the East Shanyue land and had secretly made arrangements, but the disciples in the clan gave Li Brother Yuanping a headache.

"If I really want to do it like Brother said... where can I find a place..."

Li Brother Yuanping sorted out the letters on the desk and took out the information of the families around.

"Really dare to kill..."

Li Brother Yuanping looked at the roster above, pursed his lips. Yu Yu Mugao killed happily, but the hidden dangers left behind were many. He shook his head and set his sights on the families on the east bank.

The families on the east bank were scattered, more than a dozen families, scattered all over the place. Although most of them were small clans of Qi Condensation, they were quite complicated, with many entanglements, and no one touched them.

The north bank of Wangyue Lake and the east bank of Wangyue Lake were once the territory of the Tangjin Sect. The families on the east bank had thousands of ties with the Tangjin Sect. Although the Tangjin Sect was weak now and had lost this territory, they still had some human feelings. This was the first point.

Secondly, the families on the east bank held several mineral veins and spiritual springs, which were secretly controlled by the Xiao family's dependents in the west, with Xiao family members stationed as guests to maintain the situation and profit from it.

It was not something that should have happened, but the Mount Qingchi Sect turned a blind eye. The Xiao family wanted to see this shattered appearance, so it was maintained year after year.

Moreover, Wangyue Lake bordered the Xiao family, and the buffer zone between them was maintained by these families. The north bordered the Tangjin Sect, and the south bordered the Li and Ding families. The competition of various forces was sensitive.

It was these many factors that forcibly maintained the families on the east bank. There had been no major changes in a hundred years. When the Jiang family was prosperous, they offered to the Jiang family; when the Yu family dominated, they offered to the Yu family. Now that the Yu family had declined and the three forces on the lake were standing, they were all looking for backers.

"Back then, the market was destroyed, the Yu family declined, and our family had the opportunity to accept the offerings of several families, but at that time, there were not enough people, and we only wanted to hide our light and not get involved, so we missed it."

Li Brother Yuanping pondered for a while, and couldn't help but be moved in his heart, secretly thinking:

"It just so happens that our family is tight on expenses now. If we can intervene... one can get some tribute, and two can support some forces on the east bank..."

Li Brother Yuanping was thinking about the feasibility of this matter when he called out to Dou Yi below:

"Go to the Clan Justice Court and get me a piece of information on the families on the east bank."

Dou Yi nodded hurriedly and went down in a hurry. Unexpectedly, a person ran up from below and bowed:

"Reporting to the Family Head! A cultivator on the road is asking to see you!"

"A cultivator on the road?"

Li Brother Yuanping froze slightly, knowing that those who could report to the hall were mostly not simple, and only asked:

"What is the cultivation level? Is there something to ask for?"

The clan soldier at the steps opened his mouth and replied:

"According to Guest An, I fear it is not a cultivator of the Early Zifu Golden Pill path. He is wearing a Daoist robe with sleeves, looks like a youth, and says that his aura is far beyond Foundation Establishment. As for the matter, he insists on seeing the Family Head before he is willing to say."

Guest An had also seen Yu Yu Xiaogui and Li Li Tongya back then, and could roughly estimate the strength of a Foundation Establishment cultivator. Saying it was far beyond Foundation Establishment made Li Brother Yuanping's expression solemn.

"Not a Early Zifu Golden Pill path cultivator!? Wants to see me?"

Li Brother Yuanping froze for a time and said in a deep voice:

"Go and remind Brother Jiao, tell... no need to call him over, let him watch on the mountain... Guest An and others will suppress it together... to prevent this person from suddenly rising."

Li Brother Yuanping's expression was ugly. He had always hated this kind of unexpected trouble the most. Moreover, although the other party was polite and visited, this person's cultivation was far beyond Foundation Establishment. If he really made a fuss, the Li family couldn't afford it.

"Damn it!"

He expressed his dissatisfaction viciously, then let out a long breath and whispered:

"Please go to the side hall and wait."

"Yes!"

Dou Yi and others shrank their heads and went down. Li Brother Yuanping sat back at the head and secretly said:

"Looking at the dress, it is not a Release Sect, but it is hard to guarantee that it is a transformation... I fear it is a demon cultivator... Our family has never seen a Jiangnan demon cultivator, only hearing that the appearance is no different from ordinary people, I fear I won't be able to recognize it."

He walked down the steps, after all, it was a Foundation Establishment level visit, and the Li family's weight was enough, and it wouldn't be a huge loss if the other party suddenly killed.

"It is not appropriate to show weakness at this time, lest the other party become suspicious, so I will go and meet him."

Li Brother Yuanping walked to the front of the hall, walked lightly to the corridor, and just walked to the corridor, he saw Li Wen, who was honest, following him with a big golden melon the size of a human head, without saying a word.

Li Brother Yuanping looked at his mountain-like figure and really felt a bit more secure, smiling:

"Good honest man!"

"Hehe."

Li Wen smiled in a muffled voice. Li Brother Yuanping arrived before the side hall and said softly:

"No need to follow in, just wait outside."

After all, Foundation Establishment and Qi Condensation were too different. According to Guest An's description, Li Wen was just a palm's worth of work for the other party, and it would look like his own family was guilty.

Seeing Li Wen respond blankly, Li Brother Yuanping pushed the door and entered.

The side courtyard was simple and unadorned, with only a few wooden desks. A youth was sitting by the small desk on the side, wearing a Daoist crown, his face ordinary, with a sword on his knees, but it was a peach wood sword.

He looked to be only twenty years old, wearing a plain Daoist robe, with gold patterns embroidered on the cuffs, looking like he didn't know where the dress was from, and the peach wood sword was also ordinary and dim, not looking like any treasure.

"Twenty-year-old Foundation Establishment?"

Li Brother Yuanping had already determined that this person used illusion to cover up his appearance, and became even more vigilant.

"The Li family respectfully welcomes Senior's arrival. I don't know what Senior is called?"

Li Brother Yuanping stepped forward, put on a full smile, and asked softly, neither humble nor arrogant.

"Greetings, Family Head! I am Wang Xun from Yinghua County, Zhao country! Family Head is too polite!"

Unexpectedly, the cultivator reacted greatly, jumping up from the side of the desk, the peach wood sword on his knees jumping a somersault in the air, floating lightly, Wang Xun seemed to know nothing, and answered politely.

Seeing the answer and tone of this person, Li Brother Yuanping's heart let go of a point, his gaze swept over the peach wood sword without a trace, and he smiled:

"So it is a guest from Zhao country! I am Li Brother Yuanping, sorry for not welcoming you, sorry for not welcoming you."

"Don't dare."

Wang Xun saw that Li Brother Yuanping did not go to the head, but sat on the side, obviously giving him face, his restrained expression suddenly relaxed, and he sat down as well.

Seeing that the youth's reactions in front of him really didn't look like they were faked, the heavy burden in Li Brother Yuanping's heart suddenly lifted by three parts, and he became more at ease, saying warmly:

"Bring tea!"

The attendant below brought the tea, set it before the two, and hurried away. Li Brother Yuanping smiled, watching the youth's shy and bashful appearance, but he dared not lower his guard, saying warmly:

"May I ask Senior... what is your background? Do you have any matters to entrust? If it is within my family's power, we will certainly accomplish it for Senior."

This youth likely didn't walk in the secular world often, as he had spoken a string of words without mentioning his background. Li Brother Yuanping asking about his background was to see if he was from some great sect or clan, so he could respond accordingly.

Thus, he asked with a beaming smile while picking up the jade pot to refill his tea.

The youth was stunned for a moment, then nodded repeatedly, thinking he was being asked about his family lineage, and replied hurriedly:

"I am from the Wang family of Yinghua, the great-grandson of the Xiaojin True Monarch, and the son of the Yingyuan True Person..."

"Whoosh..."

Li Brother Yuanping felt as if he had been slapped for no reason; his head buzzed, his steady hand shook violently, and this statement left his mind blank, causing him to spill quite a few droplets of water.

"Xiaojin True Monarch! A Golden Core cultivator!"

He raised his head in a daze, saying incredulously:

"Senior... you say... you are the great-grandson of a True Monarch, and the son of a True Person?!"