Chapter 547

His thoughts raced like lightning. Since the Li family members before him remained silent, Miao Ye had no choice but to pick up the conversation, saying in a low voice, "I have come this time to clear up some misunderstandings..."

"My clan uncle... encountered a fairy from your noble family in the East Sea. He was suddenly startled by a magic treasure belonging to a senior, and in his excitement..."

"He has a reckless personality. Seeing that spear so suddenly, he couldn't control himself. I heard he had some disputes with the seniors of your noble family... I have come precisely for this matter..."

Although Miao Ye looked rugged, his speech revealed a nature that was meticulous despite his rough appearance. His words were tactful, but the Li family members were not easily fooled. Everyone knew exactly whether Miao Quan's excitement upon meeting Li Qinghong in the East Sea was truly impulsive or if there had been ulterior motives. Li Ximing showed no reaction, and the expressions of Li Xuanxuan and Li Chengliao were merely superficially polite.

Miao Ye sighed softly and said in a deep voice:

"My clan uncle's body was severed by the head of the Shen family, and he barely managed to preserve his demonic fetus. He has already reaped what he sowed. If your noble family looks at his miserable end, consider it a release of your anger and worry less about the details..."

Li Ximing stared at him intently, and only after Miao Ye finished speaking did he reply:

"These words must be spoken to my aunt. Fellow Daoist, you certainly did not come here specifically to apologize. If you have something to say, just say it directly."

Miao Ye had no choice but to lower his head and say, "To tell you the truth, the 【Du Ruo】 spear held by your noble family's senior originally belonged to my Listening Thunder Island... It's just that many years ago, a senior went out to train in the seas and formed some grudges with Golden Feather and Qingchi."

"These grudges... originally had no clear origin. Golden Feather claimed my senior stole their cultivation techniques, while Qingchi claimed he harbored remnants of the Lingyu Gate and escorted the direct descendants of the Chen family to escape..."

Miao Ye gave an awkward smile and said in a low voice, "Heaven is my witness, my Miao family has been thunder cultivators for generations, and at most, we know some spells to drive thunder and command electricity... Although we were later labeled as the demonic path... how many blood arts or witchcraft arts could we possibly have? Let alone any brilliant methods of theft! Someone must have been stirring up trouble from within!"

Miao Ye could not gauge their attitude toward the Qingchi Sect and the Golden Feather Sect, so his tone was very tactful. His words sounded pleasant, but the underlying meaning was that the Qingchi Sect and the Golden Feather Sect had slandered and persecuted them.

This man forced a smile; he dared not say anything too harsh in front of the Li family, but he must have cursed the two sects viciously in private. For now, he only said:

"I have come this time to ask about the origin of this spear! I hope your noble family can reveal some information... If it was obtained from elsewhere... did you see the remains of my clan's senior..."

Li Chengliao heard this and added a brief sentence, saying softly to Li Xuanxuan:

"This matter is too long ago... Does the Great Elder have any memory of it?"

Miao Ye immediately became nervous. Looking at the old man before him, he felt it was reasonable:

"That's right, I must ask these elders of the clan to get some information."

Li Xuanxuan heard this and naturally refused to speak first. He asked in a low voice, "I wonder what kind of immortal foundation your clan's senior had, and what protective treasures he possessed? I do have some impression. If you can reveal some information and we can match them one by one, I might be able to recall more."

Miao Ye nodded and said hurriedly, "My clan's senior was named Miao Dushan. His natural talent was exceptional. Relying on his own strength, he combined thunder arts with demonic arts, creating the cultivation orthodoxy of our Listening Thunder Island today... He should have had several precious demonic manuals, and his mount was a 【Kan-Abode Python】... It was quite large and skilled at controlling water currents."

"He also had a spirit tool called the 【Heavenly Yin Origin Pearl】, which was blood-red all over... It should have been only the size of a palm. The records have been lost for many years, and I can no longer remember its specific appearance."

The speaker had no intention, but the listener did. Li Xuanxuan, standing to the side, became vigilant. He was an eyewitness to the events of that year and clearly remembered that the Du Ruo spear was obtained from a snake demon's cave.

And that snake demon's cave was right beneath their feet, connecting to Qingdu Mountain, and was currently the Qingdu Cave Mansion! "At that time, we obtained a few items: two books, one spear, and one pearl... The 【Blood Mara Dharma Book】 was taken back by Zhang Yun of the Golden Feather Sect, and the 【River Great Mausoleum Classic】 is still in the treasure vault and cannot be read."

"As for that blood pearl... it was found on the remains of the snake demon. Zhang Yun said it was a demon core... So each person took two items and left."

Li Xuanxuan's pupils dilated slightly, and his mind was shaken: "It wasn't a demon core! How could it be a demon core!!"

His heart was in turmoil. The truth he suddenly realized left him feeling completely unsettled. He had heard Li Tongya describe this matter personally and even knew the specific conversation between the two.

"Zhang Yun and my uncle each picked one item. He was slightly better than my uncle and picked the demon core first..."

The Li family didn't have many magic treasures at that time, and Li Tongya was just a Qi Refining cultivator. The magic treasure in his own hand was tattered; how could he recognize the value of a Foundation Establishment magic treasure? "A demon core of a Foundation Establishment demon... how could it compare to this 【Du Ruo Spear】!"

Later, the family gradually had Foundation Establishment magic treasures, and they had also seen Li Wushao's demon core, which was just a treasure emitting cold air and could not be compared to a Foundation Establishment magic treasure at all. The Li family members often explained it by saying the demon had failed to break through to the Zifu realm and perhaps the demon core had some divine properties. Now, hearing Miao Ye's words, how could Li Xuanxuan not understand! "Good... no wonder Zhang Yun remained calm... he actually took away a Zifu spirit tool silently! These things in the cave were not obtained from the snake demon at all, but were guarded by the 【Kan-Abode Python】 when Miao Dushan passed away!"

"Even... even Zhang Yun claimed to come to take back the 【Blood Mara Dharma Book】. It is very likely that the 【Blood Mara Dharma Book】 was not something of the Golden Feather Sect either! It was the dharma book of Miao Dushan of the Miao family!"

"He took away the good things but left behind the 【Du Ruo Spear】 that revealed his identity... The Miao family searched all the way here, and naturally, they would ask our family for the items..."

"If it weren't for Qinghong's powerful strength and the fact that she happened to encounter Miao Quan at the right time, he probably would have snatched it away with all his might, and her life would have been hard to preserve. Once the grudge was formed... where would there be any mood to distinguish the rights and wrongs of the earliest times?"

"As for running into a Miao family Zifu... there would be no chance to speak..."

Thoughts flashed through his mind for a moment, and he couldn't help but feel depressed: "Zhang Yun was not the number one person of the younger generation of the Golden Feather Sect at that time, nor was he one of the cultivators closest to the Zifu realm today, but his methods can be seen from this... He was a step ahead of Chi Zhiyun."

Li Xuanxuan's thoughts turned in his mind. Miao Ye was still staring at him blankly. Li Xuanxuan choked and asked first:

"Did your clan come for the 【Du Ruo Spear】?"

Miao Ye hesitated for a moment and replied:

"That is not entirely the case... My clan has been searching for our senior for hundreds of years. First, we hope to let his remains and spiritual transformation return to the island. Second, we most want the whereabouts of the 【Heavenly Yin Origin Pearl】... As for the demonic arts and magic treasures, it is only a pity."

'After all, it is a Zifu spirit tool; no family would be willing to part with it...'

Li Xuanxuan was silent for a moment, not knowing how to answer him, and could only say in a low voice:

"Fellow Daoist, I cannot say."

Miao Ye did not seem surprised. He stared closely at the old man and said in a low voice:

"I understand the senior's meaning, but I don't know how to report back... If there is no cause and effect, I cannot explain it to my family, and it will still make people suspicious of your noble family."

He was afraid that Li Ximing, sitting at the head, would suddenly erupt, so he deliberately raised his volume and said quickly and urgently: "A Zifu spirit tool! My clan's True Person truly values it. If it weren't for the struggle between the north and south, the vigilance of various families, and the wrong timing, his old self would have already come to visit!"

Li Ximing narrowed his eyes. Li Xuanxuan hurriedly interrupted and said in a hoarse voice: "Fellow Daoist, do you know about our family's Yueque Sword?"

Miao Ye nodded:

"I have heard a little."

"【Du Ruo】 was obtained by our clan's senior through a bet during Qi Refining... The rest of the items are not things our family dares to touch."

Li Xuanxuan stroked his beard and said in a deep voice: "If you don't believe me, this old man has no way to prove it... 【Du Ruo】 is currently with our Qinghong. She is in the north, under orders to eliminate demons... naturally, I cannot promise it to your noble family."

Miao Ye was silent for a moment and said softly:

"The junior understands. I cannot answer the clan regarding this matter. Let me investigate first. After some time, I will definitely bring heavy gifts to exchange for 【Du Ruo】."

The Li family members all responded with detachment and politeness. Miao Ye's expression was heavy. As he retreated to the front of the hall, he suddenly asked:

"Regarding a deep blood feud, my family has been suspicious for a hundred years. Miao Ye sincerely asks: after leaving Moon-Gazing Lake, should I cross Xiping Mountain and head west, or should I follow the Mushroom Forest and head south?"

Li Xuanxuan was silent for a moment and finally sighed: "The scenery in the western desert is quite good."

Miao Ye thanked him twice and flew into the sky on the wind. Li Ximing leaned back, his straight back resting against the rear. Everyone felt somewhat depressed. Li Xuanxuan explained in a low voice:

"If this matter is not handled well, we will offend Listening Thunder Island again... Since Du Ruo is in our hands, the grudge has already been formed."

Li Chengliao was silent. Just as he was about to speak, he raised his head as if he had sensed something. Li Ximing's eyes lit up: "This!"

A green light surged outside the hall, echoing continuously, forming several silk threads like snakes and dragons in the air, mixed with golden-green clear energy rising, intertwining in the sky, appearing dazzling.

After waiting for two breaths, everyone left the hall. Crystal-clear clear energy fell sporadically from the sky, spinning as it fell. When it hit the water surface, it jumped up, leaping three feet high with white tail flames before falling again. For a time, the vast water surface was filled with jumping clear energy.

"Someone has achieved Foundation Establishment..."

Li Ximing looked at the strange phenomenon in the sky in surprise. For a moment, he couldn't identify what kind of immortal foundation it was. After distinguishing it, he said thoughtfully: "It is neither the Five Virtues nor Yin-Yang, nor is it ancient. It seems to be the Twelve Qi."

Just as Li Ximing finished speaking, a clear light rose from the lake. The lake water surged, and an ape jumped out.

This ape had white fur and gray eyes, and its eyes were vicissitudinous and spirited. Its body was surrounded by crystal-clear energy, and its figure was agile. It was as large as the main hall, its fists were as large as tables, its back and abdomen fur were stark white, and two white energy rings circled its wrists, looking majestic.

As soon as it flew out of the water, it quickly transformed, putting on a white armor and turning into an elderly man nine feet tall. It landed in front of the few people, its voice like rocks colliding, hoarse and heavy: "Old Ape has met the few lords."

"White Ape!"

Li Xuanxuan was stunned for two breaths before reacting. The old man in front of him had a loyal and honest appearance, his eyes were deep-set and vicissitudinous, his lips were pursed tightly, and his figure was tall, a head taller than the tallest Li Ximing.

"Achieved immortal foundation!"

Li Xuanxuan was truly surprised. To put it bluntly, White Ape was just a spirit beast of a small sect. In its early years, it had been displaced and was covered in wounds. It was rescued by him during the demonic disaster, covered in fire poison, and not a single piece of its fur was intact.

At that time, it was a miracle that it could live until the end of a normal demon's lifespan, let alone talk about Foundation Establishment. In recent years, White Ape had been in seclusion to break through, and the possibility of success was much lower than that of Li Xicheng back then. Li Xuanxuan had truly prepared for a life-and-death parting.

Now seeing the silent appearance of this old ape after transformation, Li Xuanxuan had many emotions. The old man just pulled its hand and asked: "Old Ape, it is good that you are alive... Foundation Establishment demons live even longer..."

White Ape, as always, did not like to talk. It just bowed to the three of them and said hoarsely:

"Old servant, following my bloodline, have cultivated the immortal foundation 'Holding Stone Sleep', belonging to the 'True Qi' of the Twelve Qi."

Its voice was low and hoarse, carrying a steady aura, and it soon stopped speaking. Li Ximing asked again:

"This is the first time I have seen this. What is the effect of the immortal foundation?"

"'Holding Stone Sleep' cultivates a long-lasting vitality, returns the muscles and bones to their true state, combines the body with True Qi, breaks through illusions, and understands the human heart. The longer the lifespan, the more powerful the immortal foundation."

Li Ximing was somewhat interested and couldn't help asking: "How much lifespan do you have now? How much is left?"

"Two hundred and eleven years in the mortal womb, sixty-five in fetal breathing, one hundred and seventy-seven in Qi Refining. Now it has been four hundred and fifty-three years."

The old monkey's voice was vicissitudinous, like rocks falling in an empty valley: "My clan has always had a long lifespan, and I have cultivated this kind of immortal foundation. Roughly calculating, I should still have more than four hundred years of lifespan."

Li Ximing showed envy, looked at the two people beside him, and sighed: "It is three times our lifespan..."

However, his expression quickly brightened. He hurriedly took a jade pendant from his bosom and handed it to the old ape, happily saying: "Since you have achieved Foundation Establishment, the matter of patrolling the lake is left to you! If there is anything, crush the jade pendant immediately, and I will come out of seclusion to save you."

Li Ximing felt relieved. Li Xuanxuan smiled when he saw this, pulled the old ape over, looked at it with satisfaction for a while, and said with a hoarse laugh:

"Old partner... you truly have deep blessings!"

The old ape saw his expression was somewhat heavy, used the clear energy on its body to nourish his aged torso, and said warmly:

"Old servant has pounded medicine for three hundred years, seen many disasters, and was often saved by incompetence. Now that I have achieved the Dao, blessings and misfortunes are yet unknown."

……

Bianyan Mountain.

Compared to the brightness and joy in the main hall of Qingdu Mountain, Bianyan Mountain appeared more gloomy. Several clouds drifted heavily between the mountains, and cultivators rose and fell in the dark mountain range.

The main hall on the left was silent. Two rows of cultivators stood in the spacious dharma hall. The white floor tiles in the center were empty. Everyone lowered their heads and frowned, not daring to speak.

The oppressive atmosphere lasted for a long time. Ning Heyuan's forehead was slightly sweating. He looked at his brother-in-law, Li Xuanfeng, who had just been called out of seclusion opposite him. Seeing the old man's calm expression, he could no longer tell from his appearance whether he still had injuries. Just standing there quietly gave off a sense of oppression:

'I don't even know if he knows. It's truly damnation... Why did Tuoba Zhongyuan take action personally! It clearly wasn't time yet... What are the Zifu thinking...'

Chi Zhiyan, sitting at the head, was silent. Ning Heyuan finally couldn't help it and said in a low voice:

"Reporting to Lord... the second young master of the Tuoba family, Tuoba Zhongyuan... personally led people to raid Bai Xiang Valley..."

After he finished speaking, he indeed saw the old man opposite slowly raise his head. Although his expression was not fierce, his eyes shot out like two mysterious arrows as he looked around, piercing the entire hall into silence.