Chapter 408

Mount Qingdu Cave Dwelling.

The tightly closed stone door slowly opened. Li Li Qinghong stepped out lightly, her aura steady and powerful. The lightning on her body had converged a lot, with only faint cold light on the tips of her hair and the corners of her clothes.

During this period of seclusion, Li Li Qinghong had stabilized her cultivation. Compared to the brilliance and eye-catching nature when she first broke through, she now appeared less dazzling, and it was already difficult to see her immortal foundation at a glance.

Li Li Yuanjiao had already discussed it with her, and he would ride the Mysterious Pattern Spirit Mist to follow Li Li Xuanxuan and the other two to the 【Hengzhu Daoist Sect】 in Hengdong Prefecture, while Li Li Qinghong would come out of seclusion to look after the house.

She rode the wind out, wearing jade boots and stepping on purple electricity as she landed. Li Li Xicheng was in the middle hall handling affairs, with two piles of letters stacked on the desk, looking very busy.

Li Li Qinghong landed, and everyone in the hall knelt down with a clatter. Li Li Xicheng also hurriedly stood up and said respectfully:

"Aunt has come out of the mountain... The Prayer Lightning Altar is already being built, and there is sixty percent of the work left. It can be completed within a year."

"Good."

Li Li Qinghong responded harmoniously. Her immortal foundation 【Mysterious Lightning Pool】 has the effect of praying for lightning and drawing electricity, but it is not yet known if it will be effective, so they can only build a high platform to try it out.

Li Li Qinghong had sent people to build the high platform earlier. This high platform is very troublesome, requiring the carving of array patterns, the collection of spiritual objects, and the creation of thirty-six bronze vessels with six sides and six corners. Even a Foundation Establishment cultivator would have to spend a lot of effort.

Fortunately, the Li family has many hands. Li Li Qinghong only carved the array patterns for the diagrams, and naturally, Li Li Xicheng had people to handle it.

Li Li Xicheng responded, took two small letters from the desk, and said respectfully:

"The Mount Yuting Guards who go to and from Xu and Zhao have sent back news, please take a look, Aunt."

Li Li Qinghong beckoned with her slender hand, and the two letters unfolded before her one after another.

One letter was news from Zhao. 【Li Huo Spear】 Chu Yi was heading north in Zhao, destroying three Hu-Hu Jie noble families and six temples of various sizes. Facing a crowd of pursuers, he broke through to the Early Zifu on the battlefield, then joined a certain peak of Mount Luoxia and entered the mountain to cultivate.

Li Li Qinghong was tongue-tied. An ordinary Foundation Establishment cultivator breaking through to the Early Zifu doesn't know how much preparation they need to make, finding a suitable place for seclusion, finding various spiritual objects to set up arrays, and waiting for the spiritual energy between heaven and earth to match their immortal foundation.

Even with so much preparation, they still need to prepare various elixirs and go into seclusion for many years within heavy arrays.

'This Chu Yi's breakthrough seems like child's play, breaking through just like that... Breaking through to the Early Zifu after only a few months of seclusion is simply unheard of.'

'He has already broken through to the Early Zifu... it's only been about ten years... and he broke through so frivolously... he is undoubtedly a Jin Dan reincarnation.'

It had only been ten years from Chu Yi's breakthrough to Foundation Establishment to achieving the Early Zifu, almost telling the world that he, Chu Yi, was a Jin Dan reincarnation. The three Hu-Hu Jie noble families and six temples were nothing more than sacrificial lambs pushed out by the Buddhist cultivation side and poor people who couldn't understand the situation.

"Ten years... truly Jin Dan means."

It was just that the letter didn't mention Chu Yi's immortal foundation, nor did it mention his divine abilities. It was likely that such news couldn't be inquired about, which made Li Li Qinghong feel slightly regretful.

'Mount Luoxia Mountain and Jiangnan almost never interact. Chu Yi entered the mountain, so he must be returning to his Jin Dan fruit position and will not return again.'

As for the Yufu Prefecture established family that was destroyed or the forces that were slaughtered, naturally no one cared. Li Li Qinghong glanced at it and remembered it, then looked at the other small letter:

It said that a group of demonic cultivators had arrived at the desolate mountain by the Great River in the north and occupied a few small mountains. Originally, these were trivial matters, and if it weren't for a loose cultivator fleeing to this place, the Li family wouldn't even have known about it.

But according to what this loose cultivator said, the demonic cultivator's cultivation wasn't high, but one of them held a blood-colored treasure mirror with great power, and a lot of information inquired about was attached to the back.

"Blood-colored treasure mirror?!"

Li Li Qinghong's gaze turned cold:

"Zhang Zhang Huaide?!"

Li Li Xicheng nodded and responded in a low voice:

"According to the loose cultivator's description, it should be this villain without a doubt!"

During the demonic disaster years ago, a group of demonic cultivators came from the west, among them Zhang Zhang Huaide, Qiu Ji, and others, who killed Tian Tian Youdao and injured Li Li Xuanxuan and Xu Gongming before escaping. Zhang Zhang Huaide was someone with a background and used an escape technique to retreat unscathed, and his magic tool was a blood-colored mirror.

Zhang Zhang Huaide didn't matter, but that Qiu Ji was the mastermind who killed her younger brother Li Li Yuanyun and almost caused Li Li Xuanxuan's death. Li Li Qinghong hated him deeply and just said in a low voice:

"What is his cultivation now?"

"It is said he has reached the ninth level of Qi Refining."

Li Li Xicheng bit the bullet and replied:

"The group of demonic cultivators are all Qi Refining cultivators, mostly in the middle and late stages of Qi Refining."

He was thinking about how to persuade his aunt next, but Li Li Qinghong's expression was hesitant:

'Brother is away, and most of the family's combat power is gone. Zhang Zhang Huaide comes at this time?'

Although she hated him deeply in her heart, she understood that this was probably not a coincidence. Swallowing her anger, she said softly:

"Too suspicious, send more people to investigate."

"Yes!"

Li Li Xicheng nodded in response, and his heart relaxed. Li Li Qinghong said:

"You send people to find out the location, and I will let Li Wushao take a trip to investigate further. Zhang Zhang Huaide has an unusual background; he might be a secret agent of the three sects, and staying here must have a reason."

Li Li Xicheng responded respectfully, and only then did Li Li Qinghong ride the wind and rise, repeatedly instructing:

"Find out clearly! That loose cultivator defecting to our family is too coincidental, do not trust him lightly."

Li Li Xicheng nodded in agreement, watched Li Li Qinghong leave, returned to the head of the table, flipped through the account book, looked at Dou Yi at the lower seat, and said softly:

"One hundred and eighty-one catties, is this all the 【Nie Water Cold Iron】 for this year?"

Dou Yi's hair was already gray, and he looked much more steady. He said in a deep voice:

"Returning to Young Master, this is all there is."

"Good."

Li Li Xicheng let him go down very harmoniously, beckoned, and Chen Chen Mufeng stepped forward. Li Li Xicheng said softly:

"The number of 【Nie Water Cold Iron】 doesn't match the number of mineral vein changes reported by An Jiyan. You quietly send out the Mount Yuting Guards to investigate... If you catch them, come back and report to me first."

Chen Chen Mufeng had been working with him for many years and said in a deep voice:

"This method is too stupid... The reserves of this mineral vein can be known at a glance, and the amount missing doesn't match the amount mined, so there must be a problem. How can it be hidden privately?"

The Li family has the "Listening and Investigating Earth Court," and the changes in mineral veins are clear at a glance. All established families cannot do without this method, so established families like the Xiao family can generously hand over mineral veins to their subordinate families to mine, and there is nowhere to hide them privately.

Li Li Xicheng shook his head:

"The mineral vein report is one hundred and eighty-one catties, but I privately sent someone to check the warehouse, and it is one hundred and ninety catties, and no one is hiding it privately."

"It should be that seeing me holding the family for the first time, they are secretly testing me. If I make a big fuss, and then go back to the warehouse to calculate again, only then will I find it is one hundred and ninety catties."

"In this way, I can at most count them as careless, and then push out that small-sect cultivator who keeps the accounts as a scapegoat to test my methods."

Li Li Xicheng following Li Brother Yuanping for nearly ten years wasn't for nothing. Not to mention his methods, at least he could see through the twists and turns below. He said somewhat hesitantly:

"You go investigate first, and report to me when you have news. Aunt's matter is urgent, it doesn't matter if this matter is put aside."

Chen Chen Mufeng took the order and went down. Li Li Xicheng thought for a while, got up and rode the wind, went up to Mount Qingdu Mountain, circled around, and landed lightly in an ordinary small courtyard.

He knocked on the door and entered. Li Brother Yuanping was sitting on a stone stool in the courtyard, holding a pen in his hand, carefully recording something.

Li Brother Yuanping looked fine in spirit, but his hand was trembling, and he couldn't hold the pen steadily.

Only then did Li Li Xicheng step forward. Li Brother Yuanping asked:

"How do you intend to deal with it?"

Li Li Xicheng hesitated for a while and replied:

"This matter... the small-sect cultivator was used as a scapegoat, so we should start from the small sect. Many brothers listen to me, so it shouldn't be difficult to find out who secretly changed the numbers..."

"But it's just finding another scapegoat."

Li Brother Yuanping shook his head and said softly:

"I will teach you one last time..."

"This test is only to understand your preferences and test your bottom line. All forces under your command benefit together, and most of them acquiesce and support it. That small-sect cultivator is also a scapegoat pushed out from within the small sect... If you start from the small sect, it means you are favoring and trusting a branch. Whether relying on the Mount Yuting Guards, starting from the Dou clan, or starting from the Prefecture Peak, it exposes your preferences."

Li Brother Yuanping said softly:

"The biggest taboo in this matter is that the cultivators under your command have consistent interests, which are contrary to yours. The small sect is a victim on the surface, but they also agreed to admit it. The only victim is that innocent cultivator."

Li Li Xicheng listened carefully. Li Brother Yuanping smiled coldly and replied:

"You only need to send someone to the warehouse and secretly turn that one hundred and ninety catties into one hundred and eighty-one catties, and this mob will naturally collapse!"

Li Li Xicheng was stunned, nodded suddenly, and said happily:

"That's it!"

He nodded repeatedly and muttered:

"The involvement is huge now! The small sect will definitely not be able to sit still and will suspect which side turned the fake into reality, so they can only point fingers in return. Seven or eight forces won't be able to handle it, and they will inevitably bite each other. I only need to sit high at the head, make a ruling or two, suppress the strong and support the weak, and maintain balance..."

Li Brother Yuanping didn't respond to him, silently writing with his pen. Li Li Xicheng had his own calculations in his heart, bowed deeply, and exited.

The sister and brother sat quietly opposite each other. The cool breeze of early spring came slowly. Li Brother Yuanping didn't actually see this sister much, and they didn't grow up together. He paused and finally opened his mouth:

"The Zhang Zhang Huaide matter is suspicious, please elder sister, endure the hatred and swallow your anger... do not be impulsive."

Li Li Qinghong just said softly:

"Of course I understand. I've endured it for so many years. I'm just afraid that if hatred is endured often, it will be easy to forget after a long time."

Li Brother Yuanping snorted, put down his pen, and replied:

"That is why we must record history."

Li Li Qinghong looked at the pages he had placed and said:

"Although Li Xicheng is not very tough, he has at least tried his best. I have seen the changes over the past ten years, and he is like a different person."

Li Brother Yuanping nodded and replied:

"I understand."

It was said that they were looking for Li Li Yuanjiao, but now that the elder brother was away, only Li Li Qinghong could receive them. The demonic deer knelt on all fours before her and spoke in human language:

"Reporting to the Immortal, my master has already found a clue to the 【Blood Sun Fruit】, please follow me to the mountain to talk to my master in detail."

"Good!"

A smile appeared on Li Li Qinghong's face. She nodded, summoned Li Li Wushao from the lake, told him to watch the house carefully, and followed the demonic deer to ride the wind into the mountain.

Li Li Yuanjiao and Li Li Qinghong had talked about this Foundation Establishment deer demon Lu Ken. Now he had set up a demon cave on the northern foothills, chose a mountain peak that was not very high, with very flat ground at the foot of the mountain, and moved many deer herds there.

Li Li Qinghong and the little demon had just arrived before the cave when Lu Ken greeted them very naturally. With brown hair and black eyes, he was slightly startled:

"Who is..."

"I am Li Li Qinghong. My elder brother Li Li Yuanjiao is away on clan business, so I came over."

Li Li Qinghong responded with a smile. The deer demon's eyes blinked, and he nodded:

"I am Lu Ken, greetings, fellow Daoist."

Lu Ken didn't dawdle after seeing her and bowed:

"Your brother entrusted me to find a precious medicine, the 【Blood Sun Fruit】. Now that I have found a clue, I have come to inform your clan."

Li Li Qinghong nodded, and he continued:

"I inquired in many ways, and a fellow Daoist at the southern foothills wrote back to me, saying that he had seen a tiger demon displaying this item in the Mount Quanwu Mountain demon cave. The description in the letter matches one by one, so it should be the 【Blood Sun Fruit】 without a doubt."

Li Li Qinghong nodded slightly, but Lu Ken flicked his sleeves and said decisively:

"This demon has some status in the Mount Quanwu demon cave, but unfortunately, he can't be considered a big shot, and he is very easy to bully."

Lu Ken was very matter-of-fact:

"You and I will first snatch this spiritual fruit, and then try to see if we can beat him to death. It's best if we can kill him; if we can't, then so be it."

"If we can't even snatch it, then we'll try to see how to buy it."

Li Li Qinghong had no choice but to nod. After all, demonic creatures are not of the same kind, and their actions are direct, more naked and unadorned. She asked:

"What is this tiger demon's cultivation?"

"Foundation Establishment middle stage."

Lu Ken looked at her expression, understood her concerns, and responded:

"He is just a demon general without a lineage, and he can't learn human spells, just having some demonic power. Immortal, you don't need to worry."

He smiled:

"It will only take a month or so, you will understand when you see him, fellow Daoist."

Li Li Qinghong nodded, sensing the mysterious lightning in her Qi sea and lightning pool, and was indeed confident in her heart. She said politely:

"Please."

She followed him and rode the wind away. The two flew above the clouds. Lu Ken seemed to be estimating her age and sighed:

"Your clan's inheritance is truly exquisite... The cultivation speed of you two siblings can be considered fast even among established families... It makes old things like us who have cultivated for hundreds of years feel very ashamed."

Li Li Qinghong said a few humble words, and Lu Ken said again:

"I don't know what kind of Dao foundation you have, fellow Daoist? We have to join forces to fight the enemy in a while, so let's clear the air first."

As he spoke, the deer demon first revealed his magic power. A pair of large horns appeared on his forehead, and his voice became rough. The demonic wind he rode was fresh and pleasant, full of vitality. He said in a deep voice:

"I cultivate 【Lingyun Wood】, which can heal, control energy, nourish spiritual plants and cultivate earth veins, and transform into vegetation..."

His immortal foundation was revealed, and the speed of riding the wind increased significantly. Li Li Qinghong nodded slightly, purple electricity appeared under her feet, and her speed was even faster. She revealed purple lightning on her jade armor and said softly:

"【Mysterious Lightning Pool】, driving lightning and controlling electricity, eliminating demons and suppressing evil."

(End of chapter)