Chapter 396

Li Yuanjiao and Fei Luoya talked for a few sentences. Both were in a good mood, their smiles warm. Zhu Xian and Li Wushao, the two followers, followed behind and flew out of the Great Jueting together.

Li Yuanjiao saw Fei Luoya looking around and asked:

"The mountains and forests from the Great Jueting to the East Shanyue are lush, a piece of fertile land. I wonder how you plan to deal with it?"

Fei Luoya looked at Li Yuanjiao with vertical pupils and answered leisurely:

"Previously, Fu Daimu was lurking nearby, and I only thought about escaping at any time, never managing the Shanyue under my rule, letting them be. Now that I have such a vast territory, I naturally have to promote a few subordinates to collect spirit objects, hunt monsters, and plant spirit rice. Every year I can earn some spirit stones..."

Li Yuanjiao echoed and laughed:

"My family is best at this. Why don't we divide this territory between us? Fellow Daoist provides the land, and we provide the people. According to my family's methods, after ten years, we can have a profit of more than twenty spirit stones every year..."

"Oh?"

Fei Luoya nodded slightly, asked around the bush, and mentioned the news of the Fu Chen Peak of the Qingchi Sect. Li Yuanjiao saw at a glance that he had no intention of cooperating, so he gave a few perfunctory words and left.

Li Wushao followed gloomily. After flying a hundred miles, he finally spoke:

"Master, is your injury still serious?"

Just now, Li Yuanjiao had taken a combined strike from Zhe Ledai's twin swords, which had scared Li Wushao out of his wits. His own soul was still in Li Yuanjiao's hands. If Li Yuanjiao had any mishap, Li Wushao would be done for.

Li Yuanjiao waved his hand and answered:

"No matter. When we return to the peak and close for seclusion, you take that treasure medicine 【Clear Cloud Elk Fruit】 and repair those two hooks of yours."

"Thank you, Master!"

Li Wushao was ecstatic and thanked him repeatedly. Li Yuanjiao answered:

"You are already a member of my Li family, no need to say so much."

As soon as the master and servant left the Great Jueting for a hundred miles, a young man in white rode the wind to meet them, handsome and elegant, with a sword on his back. He cupped his hands and said:

"Congratulations to Uncle for removing a scourge."

This child was Li Xijun. Li Yuanjiao glanced at him and doubted:

"Is there something wrong at home? Why did you come looking for me?"

Li Xijun said softly:

"The junior was afraid that Fei Luoya would use deceit to kill you, so I couldn't rest easy and watched from afar."

Li Yuanjiao looked back and said again:

"It's over a hundred miles away, and there is a grand array protecting it. Can you see it?"

Li Xijun nodded, frost and snow aura flowing in his eyes, misty, and answered:

"The junior received the 【Profound Frost Pine Ridge】, my eyesight is extremely strong, breaking illusions and examining details. Even if blocked by a grand array, I can vaguely glimpse it, see the flow of magic light, and judge the situation."

Only then did Li Yuanjiao have a look of joy, nodded and praised:

"Not bad, this talisman aura has such wonders. When you return home, take that 'Clear Eye Spirit Pupil' and look at it to see if you can practice pupil techniques with half the effort. If you can master this technique, it will be even more miraculous."

Seeing Li Xijun nod, Li Yuanjiao continued:

"Fei Luoya is unwilling to let my family intervene. If my family's people could be sent to this land, we should be able to have a lot more income."

Li Xijun thought for a moment, understood, and whispered:

"Uncle, do not worry. Fei Luoya does not know the difficulty of managing affairs. He is a lone man, where would he get the manpower to arrange everything? It is just that he is blinded by profit, thinking that he can promote a few Qi Refining cultivators. When he hits a wall, he will eventually have to come looking for my family."

Li Yuanjiao nodded and answered naturally:

The uncle and nephew talked for a while and landed back on the Qingdu Peak. Li Xijun rolled up his sleeves and said quite solemnly:

"Uncle! The family has already moved into Qingdu. Among the loose cultivators, people often call my family the Qingdu Li family. My family's status as a noble family is becoming more and more established. The Lijing suffix is already not matching the reality. Why not change it."

Li Yuanjiao did not care much about this. Qingdu or Lijing, Li Yuanjiao felt they were all the same, so he only answered:

"As you wish, just decide it."

The two people and one monster landed on the peak. A little girl was squatting in front of the courtyard door. Seeing the two, she ran up with a giggle:

"Father! Brother!"

"Xiang'er."

Li Yuanjiao only got this daughter in recent years, and he was actually very doted on her in his heart. It was just that in recent years, he had been breaking through, closing for seclusion, and exterminating monsters, and it was rare for him to even see her a few times, which made the father and daughter estranged.

Li Yuexiang held Li Xijun's hand with a giggle, obviously much closer to him. Li Yuanjiao saw this scene in front of him and felt that Li Xijun was very different from before. He laughed:

"Jun'er is much more magnanimous."

Li Xijun replied with a smile and said warmly:

"Uncle... Xiang'er can test her spirit apertures next year. I wonder what her talent will be..."

Li Xijun's face was full of gentle doting. Li Yuanjiao suddenly thought of Li Xicheng and Li Ximing. These people were actually all gentle and composed, unlike him, a fierce person.

'These people are becoming more and more like the noble family children outside.'

Li Yuanjiao watched silently. The Li family came from a rough background, with shallow roots, and started with ruthlessness. They had the anxiety of poor people who suddenly became rich, and none of the three generations could be considered kind.

Now the Xiyue generation had gradually gained the magnanimity and composure of noble family children. Not to mention that Li Xicheng down the mountain was the most obvious, Li Xizhi and Li Ximing were both easy to talk to. Li Yuanjiao saw it in his eyes, and it was hard to say whether it was good or bad.

'Yuan Chengdun, Xiao Ruyu, and others all have this composure. It is endowed by a solid family foundation and a strong background. They can make friends with heroes and harmonize with allies.'

They were born in wealth, taught by various power techniques and magic arts, and had high talent. The world in front of them was as sweet as honey. How could they not be composed? Everyone who saw them dared not offend them and had to give them three points of face. With elders to control them, they would not be arrogant. They had good lives.

'Magnanimity is good, ruthlessness and caution are also good. It is hard to say which is better. The circumstances are varied, and time and fate complement each other. How can it be said for sure? But Xijun...'

He looked at Li Xijun with his long, narrow eyes and suddenly said:

"Jun'er."

Li Xijun raised his head. He was much more handsome than Li Yuanjiao. He frowned slightly and put on a look of listening carefully.

Li Yuanjiao whispered:

"Sometimes you can hide your edge, no need to be too outstanding. Make some small mistakes, suffer some small losses..."

Li Xijun did not understand and raised his head blankly for a moment. Li Yuanjiao said sternly:

"Ximing and Xicheng will both make mistakes, and mistakes can be corrected, which makes me feel at ease. Only you are wise, and you have no mistakes, and you even have a mocking heart toward the world. I see it all in my eyes."

For the first time, Li Xijun had his thoughts seen through, and he was shocked in his heart, staring at him blankly.

Li Yuanjiao said hoarsely:

"My brother was also this wise and generous, a natural talent, wise and generous to the point that he only made one mistake in his life—picking up that magic bead."

"Time and fate are good at killing heroes. Do not underestimate the world."

The lesson of Li Yuanxiu's tragedy was profound. The Li family had added more than a dozen troublesome rules because of this matter. Li Yuanjiao's gradual development of his current suspicious and overthinking nature was inseparable from it. Li Xijun bowed and answered:

"The junior has been taught."

Li Yuanjiao gave detailed instructions, but still felt a stabbing pain in his back and shortness of breath. Only then did he remember that the injury left by Zhe Ledai was still there and could not be delayed. He ordered:

"I have suffered a small injury and need to recuperate. A Foundation Establishment cultivator closes for seclusion for several years. I leave the family to you to watch over. All the brothers listen to you. Discuss everything with your Seventh Uncle."

Li Xijun responded and cupped his hands, thoughtful. Watching Li Yuanjiao go away, he picked up Li Yuexiang on the ground and said softly:

"Let's go, brother will take you down to stroll around!"

Lijing Mountain.

"Limited to this..."

Although Li Yuanping broke through to the Jade Capital by relying on a talisman pill, he only caught his breath, and his cultivation was precarious. If he tried to break through again, he would probably die faster.

He put down the letter in his hand, and there was no change in his expression. He only let Li Xicheng on the side come up and whispered:

"That Meng father and daughter... have they come up?"

Li Xicheng cupped his hands:

"Meng Taizhi just went to collect Qi and just returned. I have already sent someone to call him."

As soon as the words fell, an old cultivator had already entered the hall, with a proper face and ninth-level Qi Refining cultivation. He stepped forward and cupped his hands:

"Loose cultivator Meng Taizhi, see the Family Head."

Li Yuanping waved his hand and asked directly:

"Old Meng, you are too polite. You said that you can refine Embryonic Breath magic artifacts. Is there such a thing?"

Meng Taizhi nodded and answered:

"The old man has some attainments in artifact refining. Not to mention the Qi Refining level, Embryonic Breath magic artifacts are a sure thing. If the Family Head is interested, the old man can refine magic artifacts for your clan to offset the cost of collecting Qi."

Li Yuanping smiled and asked:

"It is not easy for Old Meng to collect Qi. How much time can you have to refine artifacts?"

Meng Taizhi bowed and said:

"If your clan prepares the materials, one every two months is not a problem."

Li Yuanping nodded slightly and opened his mouth:

"Ten years is sixty. That is not a small number."

Most of the Li family's magic artifacts were obtained by killing enemies or purchased on the road, and the premium was very high. Most Embryonic Breath magic artifacts were used to equip the power positions on the peak and reward the juniors. If they could get this batch of magic artifacts, it would be much easier in the future.

It was just that Li Yuanping absolutely did not believe that this Meng Taizhi was so kind, coming up to work for free for no reason. He turned the small letter in his hand and thought secretly:

'With Xiao Yuansi's letter in hand, the Meng father and daughter could clearly collect Qi on their own, but they insisted on coming up. Most of them have ulterior motives.'

Li Yuanping did not want to owe favors. He glanced at Li Xicheng on the side and smiled:

"After all, you are a guest from afar, so I cannot trouble the senior like this. My family still has some foundation. Why not just hire the senior to refine artifacts and give Old Meng some subsidies."

Meng Taizhi cupped his hands, followed his words, and answered:

"The Family Head is polite. Doing a little bit of effort is not a trouble, but..."

Li Yuanping was waiting for his 'but', and then he saw Meng Taizhi say:

"My little daughter has the ability to summon heart fire to form pills. Unfortunately, the old man is only an artifact refiner and cannot teach her."

As he spoke, he bowed respectfully and continued:

"Refining magic artifacts for your clan is only one thing. If there are any arrangements, the old man will do his best and will not refuse!"

'So that was the idea!'

Only then did Li Yuanping feel it was right. He put the letter in his hand on the table and said warmly:

"Old Meng, no need to be like this. My family has no urgent matters. This pill path inheritance is quite important. I still have to find the old ancestor of the family to ask."

"Trouble the Family Head!"

Meng Taizhi thanked him a few times. Li Yuanping asked some details, talked about some things, and let him go down.

Li Xicheng on the side watched for a while, stepped forward with cupped hands, and said:

"Family Head, the Meng father and daughter, one has secret techniques, and the other is gifted. Why not recruit them into the family? Once Meng Zhuoyun becomes a pill master, she can greatly reduce the burden on Brother Ming..."

"Hmm."

Li Yuanping listened to him finish, gathered the small letter on the table, put it to the corner of the table, and said warmly:

"Look."

Li Xicheng stepped forward and read the small stack of letters one by one:

"The subordinate has reached the Red Dragon Island market in the East Sea... There has never been a Meng-surnamed refiner here... and I have never heard of any refiner going out..."

"The subordinate has reached the Pure One Island in the East Sea..."

"The subordinate has reached the Bamboo Creek Island in the East Sea..."

Li Xicheng finished reading them one by one. Only then did Li Yuanping explain:

"I have already sent manpower to check every island. From the origins of the spirit objects sold by Meng Zhuoyun and others, I have never heard of any Meng-surnamed cultivator who is good at artifact refining... nor have I heard of any refiner leaving the East Sea recently."

"Even the few locations extracted from Meng Taizhi's mouth have never been traced."

He knocked on the table and said warmly:

"Perhaps Meng Taizhi is unknown, so it is difficult to find traces, but I have not found out the origin of this person. How can I easily include him in the family?"

Seeing Li Xicheng thoughtful, Li Yuanping said:

"This matter is not urgent. There are still ten full years. Check slowly, watch slowly. As long as you have the heart to guard, you will always find out."

He instructed Li Xicheng:

"I have arranged a few people. When you take over the family, just check step by step."

Li Xicheng nodded, his heart heavy with pressure. He had been following Li Yuanping for a few years, and only then did he understand his brother Li Ximing's hidden bitterness. It was so troublesome for him to just take over the reformed Li family. How difficult was it for Li Ximing to do everything back then?

After Li Yuanping finished saying this, the clan soldiers below reported that An Jiyan and his two sons had returned, and the mineral veins on the south bank had been explored clearly.

"Good! Invite him in quickly."

Li Yuanping was overjoyed and coughed twice. Three people had already been brought up below. The leader had a shiny bald head, ninth-level Qi Refining, and cupped his hands:

"An Jiyan see the Family Head."

Li Yuanping nodded. An Jiyan's body was as strong as a bear, but his tone was very humble:

"The subordinate has already found out. There are fourteen abnormal places in the earth veins on the south bank, with a total of two mineral veins and seven water veins. The value obtained is very high. Congratulations to the Family Head!"

"Two mineral veins?!"

Li Yuanping stood up hurriedly and asked:

"What are the mineral veins respectively?!"

(End of chapter)