Chapter 728: Arranging Various Matters (Part 1)

As soon as Li Ximing asked, purple flames shone in the mountains, and the heavenly light illuminated everything. Placed in the scorching purple flames, the stone bricks were scalding. Daoist Wen Hu's face was already pressed to the ground, not daring to lift it, emitting a sizzling roasting sound.

Not to mention the consequences of deceiving a Zifu, for a Zifu to ask with a plain "You dare to lie to me" to a cultivator's face was already another level of torture psychologically...

Not knowing what Daoist Wen Hu was thinking, Li Chenghuai on the side felt a chill rush up his spine. Even though he wasn't the one lying, it made him feel fear in his heart.

'Uncle now... already has the prestige of a True Person!'

Li Ximing looked at Daoist Wen Hu on the ground, but there was not much anger in his heart, rather more regret.

The lies this man told were half-true and half-false, quite brilliant. The Mi Fan direct descendant he spoke of was mostly likely the one fished away by the Du Xian Dao and swindled to death by him. This matter involved Zifu participation and was quite secret. If Chang Yun hadn't mentioned it, Li Ximing truly wouldn't have been able to confirm it.

And Daoist Wen Hu's connection to the Mi Fan direct descendant had a basis. There truly existed such a person, and they had contact with Daoist Wen Hu. Not only could it prevent and induce Li Ximing's calculation, but the details would never be wrong—after all, Daoist Wen Hu, who didn't understand the other Mi Fan Dao lineages, couldn't have fabricated such a person out of thin air.

As long as Li Ximing didn't have definite news, Daoist Wen Hu could even continue to fabricate. If it weren't for his family obtaining Fu Dou's head and calculating with high-level witchcraft that Fu Dou was killed by a sneak attack, this "Small Chamber Heavenly Clear Scatter Cloud Formula" would also be hard to use as evidence.

"But in the space of a breath, he pulled out a story with a beginning and an end. If it weren't for his incomplete thinking and eagerness to prove his value, providing an extra "Small Chamber Heavenly Clear Scatter Cloud Formula" also left one less tail..."

Li Ximing sipped his tea. Daoist Wen Hu lifted his face, which had been scorched black, unable to tell if he was crying. Li Chenghuai saw Li Ximing's expression, stepped forward, pulled his chains, and asked: "Just say it all clearly. The True Person has his own decision. Why bother with this?"

Daoist Wen Hu opened his eyes. His eyes had long been scorched during the battle, leaving only white. He lifted his head and said: "This humble person has spent a lifetime fighting in the South Sea. Whenever I encounter something, if the conspiracy succeeds, it is my victory; if I fail and cannot fight, it is my defeat. There is no reason to sit and wait for death, waiting for the 'True Person to have his own decision'."

Li Ximing put down the jade cup and nodded: "Good!"

As soon as the words fell, a burst of heavenly light rolled with purple flames, sweeping Daoist Wen Hu's flesh and bones away, turning them into ashes. Along with the various chains on his body and the iron buckles engraved with array patterns, they all melted cleanly. The Foundation Establishment cultivator kneeling on the spot was blown away like smoke in the space of a breath.

"Clang."

Several distorted iron blocks that had been burned beyond recognition were left on the spot. They were the shackles on Daoist Wen Hu's body. He cultivated "Hurricane Wu Gui Yin" and was restrained by Bright Yang. With this blow, all his cultivation was dissolved cleanly, not even stirring up half an anomaly.

Li Chenghuai stood aside and silently exhaled. Li Ximing placed the three jade slips on the table, rubbed his eyebrows, and asked: "Chenghuai, one "Hurricane Wu Gui Yin" and one "Floating Cloud Body", both are fourth-grade, which is of great benefit to the family's foundation... You look... which one in the family has the mind to practice."

Li Chenghuai pondered and replied:

"I will go back and check which child in the family is just reaching the time for Qi Refining."

Li Ximing only let him arrange it, but no matter which clansman, they certainly wouldn't make it in time for the Mi Fan Spirit Treasury of Small Chamber Mountain. He asked: "Funan and Midong have received people back one after another because of exterminating sects and seizing the handles of aristocratic families. They are from the same cave, after all. Are there any talents of the same energy?"

Li Chenghuai replied: "This junior will check."

He immediately sent people down. Not long after, a courtyard guard presented a jade slip, and Li Chenghuai took it to read.

The benefits of governing the family well were reflected. Li Chenghuai obviously had long paid attention to these things and recorded them one by one. At this moment, there was no need to wait. After scanning twice, Li Chenghuai replied:

"There is one surnamed Wang, with the same energy as the 'Floating Cloud Body', at the late stage of Qi Refining. There is also a retainer Huang, who also cultivates the 'Floating Cloud Body'. There is no Qi Refining cultivator with the same energy for 'Hurricane Wu Gui Yin'."

Li Ximing said casually:

"This branch of the Wang surname in Jiangbei is huge, and Wang He is still serving in the Du Xian Dao... It is not easy to discipline in the Mi Fan territory. Since he is already at the late stage of Qi Refining, just point this Wang family member to support him. It is best to try to achieve Foundation Establishment, which will also stabilize the commoners who moved over from the Funan territory."

While he was ordering, he already had a premonition in his heart:

'Then don't even think about getting more of this Spirit Treasury. Just test the water first. Fortunately, it is not a one-time or two-time thing. Wait until the juniors rise before investigating in detail.'

Li Chenghuai understood and retired under his order, but saw the True Person in white and gold patterns in the upper seat closing his eyes and exhaling, suddenly saying: "Chenghuai, fate, timing, talent, heart, and calculation—it is difficult for all three to be complete. Often, one thinks that cultivation and heart calculation are the top priority, but one must also worry about this world... If luck is exhausted, it is difficult to reach Zifu; if fate is shallow, there is no divine ability."

"This junior has been taught."

Li Chenghuai knew he was referring to Daoist Wen Hu and responded. Li Ximing pondered: "Call all the Zhou Xing generation over... and... invite the Old Master over as well."

Mount Qingdu Shan.

Mount Qingdu Shan had now built quite a few pavilions, and the forest trees were fewer. It had changed from the secluded place of several Foundation Establishment and direct descendants to the Peak of Clan Governance where people came and went. Escape lights rose and fell everywhere, and figures were busy. Li Que Wan drove all the way and landed on the mountain.

The silver-white necklace around her neck reflected light slightly, and her face carried some contemplation. Now she was at the late stage of Qi Refining, with seventh-layer Qi Refining cultivation, and could be considered a backbone force in the Li family.

Li Que Wan had made a trip to the Northern Mountain Yue and returned without success, feeling slightly frustrated.

'The Xuan Wu Dao techniques are truly too difficult, too difficult...'

"Xuan Wu Dao Techniques" were witchcraft obtained from the talisman seed. To speak of witchcraft... it was actually a complete book of the Witch Dao. The methods of witchcraft in it were surprisingly numerous, mainly in three paths: Change, Witch Talisman, and Spirit Capture.

And the Dao techniques were complex. In fact, they were just three major chapters, without even a division of one, two, or three. Clearly, they were extremely mysterious things, but the chapters were divided as carelessly as if they were bundled up casually.

"After all, it is an ancient cultivation method, taking simplicity as beauty..."

Li Que Wan did not practice many techniques. Except for cultivation, almost all her energy was spent on the "Xuan Wu Dao Techniques". Now she was only at the entry level. After listening to Li Jiangqian's suggestion, she studied more on change and life-protection, and the rest were just some calculation methods.

After all, the opening of "Xuan Wu Dao Techniques" was: "When mystery is first achieved, then practice witchcraft." Li Que Wan looked at it, and the so-called mystery first achieved... was Zifu! "In ancient times, if you didn't have a divine ability, it was hard to say you had achievements. It is truly enviable."

Li Que Wan put away her thoughts and focused her gaze on Mount Qingdu Shan. She had visited a handful of times, but she had long held awe in her heart.

Mount Qingdu managed clan governance matters. In the early years, it managed direct descendant mortals. Later, as direct descendant cultivators became more numerous, mortal bloodlines also scattered and fell to the side branches, so they expanded manpower and turned to manage mostly cultivators.

Subsequently, as marriages between several foreign surnames, retainers, and the Li clan became more numerous, Mount Yuting caught people, and most of them had to be handed over to Mount Qingdu for management. Mount Yuting's inspection remained, but judgment and punishment turned to the bottom-layer cultivators of the sixteen prefectures, two peaks, and one mountain. Its status gradually became lower than Mount Qingdu.

And Li Chenghuai broke through to Foundation Establishment and refined "Don't Investigate Me", which could distinguish the true and false of low-grade Qi Refining cultivators. It did not have much influence on the upper level of the Li family, but it was a major event for the entire prefecture-peak system to rectify the atmosphere. It even investigated three direct descendant clan elders... and sent them to the continent for house arrest. Mount Qingdu's status rose even higher.

And just when Mount Qingdu was at its hottest, there was a side peak of Mount Qingdu that was shaded by trees. Not many pavilions were built, and not many people came and went. Li Que Wan was also very humble when she arrived here, saying to the middle-aged man in front of the door: "Please report to the Old Master... True Person requests an audience."

This middle-aged man was still Li Que Wan's own brother. He did not dare to say much, nodded repeatedly, entered the building, and immediately an old man came downstairs.

This old man's cheeks had already sunken, making his face look thin and dry, but his kindness was not lacking at all. His two eyes became two black and bright slits buried in wrinkles because of his smile, and his mouth was slightly open. Li Que Wan wanted to smile along with him when she saw it, pursing her lips and saying softly:

"Is the Old Master still healthy?"

"Good... good!"

Li Xuanxuan walked up quickly. Li Que Wan was busy reaching out to support him. The old man did not take her hand, looked up and said: "Ximing is back? Let's go, let's go... let's go over now!"

Now, the only one who dared to call Zhaojing True Person "Ximing" was probably Li Xuanxuan alone. Li Que Wan followed him to drive the wind up. Li Xuanxuan sighed: "A few months ago... that He Jiumen died of old age. He used a lot of essence blood for refining tools, and in the end, he only had a lifespan of one hundred and fifty. It is truly a pity... And that robe of his, it wasn't fully passed on to Queyi and the others. The old man didn't die comfortably!"

He Jiumen was an old cultivator on the West Bank. In recent years, his relationship with Li Xuanxuan had been good. Li Que Wan only then learned that he had fallen. Before she could speak, Li Xuanxuan said again:

"Donghe has been silent in Mount Yuting all these years, An Jiyan has gone out, Qiuyang has let go and went to the lake to pole a boat. I have no one to talk to on the mountain. Those three or five who come up in groups... are all looking at me, an old man, as having some say. It's hypocritical and meaningless..."

Except for Li Qinghong, the first one Li Que Wan followed when she went up the mountain was Li Xuanxuan. She felt quite guilty, but Li Xuanxuan said: "An Jiyan doesn't have many years left to live... and he was sent to the North, and Retainer An had an accident... What kind of logic is this? In a while, I will have a good talk with the True Person."

In a few words, they had already landed on Zhi Jing Mountain. At the foot of the mountain stood a man and a woman.

The leading man had a quite good appearance, wearing pleated clothes, with a golden glow like wheat ears, divided into six strands, lively like a sparrow. The woman's appearance was ordinary, and she did not apply powder, only wearing a plain skirt and carrying a sword on her back.

"Zhouluo Uncle, Xinghan Aunt!"

Li Que Wan greeted them well, and the two were busy bowing to Li Xuanxuan, the Old Master. Li Xuanxuan was busy helping them up, looked at Li Xinghan, somewhat surprised, and asked:

"Zhouluo often comes to pay respects to me in Mount Qingdu, and I see him often. But Xinghan, the old man hasn't seen much... Where are you cultivating now?"

Li Xinghan arched her hands and said:

"Reporting to Master, Xinghan is cultivating in the area of the north bank of Wangyue Lake. The mountain cliffs there are steep, good for cultivating sword techniques."

Li Xinghan was not outstanding in appearance, but this voice was crisp like snow, quite moving. Li Xuanxuan's eyes lit up when he heard sword techniques, and he asked:

"Have you cultivated sword energy?"

"Reporting to Master, it has already been cultivated."

Several people neared the True Person's place of cultivation, restraining their voices and not daring to speak. Li Xuanxuan did not make things difficult for them. All the way to the top of the mountain, they saw Zhi flowers flying, spreading a thick layer on the ground, like white frost. Several jade pillars fell in the sea of flowers, and purple flames vaguely flickered.

The True Person in white and gold patterns was reading a jade slip in the upper seat. Seeing Li Xuanxuan come up, he immediately stood up to welcome him, helped the old man sit down, and poured tea. The several juniors then dared to move, standing sideways on the side.

Li Zhouluo glanced at it. His father, Li Chenghuai, was standing silently on the side, and his heart couldn't help but drum:

'What is this matter...'

With several juniors present, Li Xuanxuan did not speak for a while, returning the words of concern from Li Ximing. Li Chenghuai then said: "Reporting to True Person, Zhoufang and Zhouyang of the Bo pulse went to the wilderness and have not returned for a while."

Li Ximing nodded, looked at Li Zhouluo and Li Xinghan in front of him, and was still quite satisfied. He especially looked at the sword behind Li Xinghan, nodded, and said: "My family started with the sword path, but except for my two brothers, few juniors love the sword. You two, one cultivates Geng Metal, one cultivates Jade Truth, both use sword techniques, which can be considered not bad!"

Li Zhouluo cultivated the "Mang Metal Asking Mystery Method" and was the first in the family to cultivate this method. Li Xinghan was special, cultivating the Yu family Dao lineage "Jade Dao Combining Truth Formula".

This cultivation method was obtained from the Yu family's secret treasury. Although it had no grade, it could be considered a rare complete inheritance. Almost no one in the Li family had cultivated this method over the years... It was still because gathering Qi was difficult.

The "Jade Dao Combining Truth Formula" required carving floating patterns. At least Qi Refining cultivators had to hold a jade plate and chant scriptures all day to gather Qi. Although five or six years of effort was not long... chanting scriptures all day to gather Qi was not like other Qi gathering that only required one or two hours a day, delaying cultivation. Naturally, no one was willing to gather Qi.

What's more, this spirit energy had to be gathered by the same person and could not be rotated. The original scriptures were scattered quite a bit after the Yu family was destroyed, making it even more difficult. Although Li Xinghan's father was a direct descendant, his ability and talent were not outstanding, so naturally, he couldn't get such good things.

But fortune and misfortune depended on each other. Because his cultivation was not enough, he didn't even have the qualifications to go to the great battle on the river. He only had a direct descendant status and had to marry a wife who had some connection with the Yu family. Li Xinghan's uncle was once a retainer of the Yu family, understood the scriptures, loved her extremely, and personally spent five years gathering it for her!

Her mother's family's efforts were not in vain. Li Ximing saw this, and he truly felt a sense of brightness! The richer the Dao lineages of each family, the better, so they wouldn't be suppressed by a magic tool until everyone bowed their heads, and a spirit atmosphere blew until everyone suffered. And his own direct descendants lacked a Jade Truth. Li Ximing liked what he saw and smiled:

"Your immortal foundation has the meaning of understanding combination, and you have encountered the Jade Truth in the world. The Jade Truth Six-Nine Combining Void True Lord of that year was also a sword immortal. He ascended to the fruit position... This Jade Truth... it might also be a good Dao lineage for practicing the sword, no worse than Geng Metal. Just practice the sword well."

Li Ximing didn't need to promise anything. He, a dignified True Person, said this in front of the Li family Old Master and the Foundation Establishment cultivator who managed Mount Qingdu, which already represented that Li Xinghan had entered the True Person's eyes. Although this young girl didn't have any complex thoughts, she understood, and was busy bowing.

"Thank you, True Person!" ===== CHAPTER 729 =====