Chapter 777

Li Li Xuanxuan withdrew his hand, and the fair-skinned man on the ground could only remain kneeling. Only then did the old man show his anger. He did not even drink the tea on the table, letting it sit there, and said in a hoarse voice:

"In this matter... how much was Cheng involved?" Li Li Xixuan knelt honestly, his fair face pressed against the ground, and said in a low voice, "Grandfather... why do you say that?"

Li Li Xuanxuan looked at him deeply and said in a low voice, "I know... Li Chenghuai's divine mystery has dragged out a group of people. None of you have had a peaceful day, and it has made the outsiders and the small clans anxious, so I persuaded him to retire. Now that Li Chenghuai has gone into seclusion, you still want to invite him out... Did you prepare some sorcery to test him... or did you come up with some scheme to bypass him? You could even force Li Zhouluo to lose his prestige... is this how you act as an elder?"

Li Li Xixuan said in a low voice:

"It was only for Li Chengpan's reputation."

Li Li Xuanxuan laughed in anger. The old man's eyes widened, his temperament suddenly becoming fierce, and he said in a hoarse voice:

"I don't care what means you used to toss and turn; at the end of the investigation, Li Hun is definitely the only one of the four who has committed a major crime. You think too highly of yourself! Li Chenghuai didn't dare to investigate you, but do you think I don't dare to investigate you? There is no one here now; I will have Li Chenghuai come over right now."

Li Li Xixuan could no longer kneel; he moved forward an inch, and tears immediately flowed down as he choked out:

"Your grandson just feels that the clan is too harsh! Li Zhouluo, Aunt Xinghan, and the others are comfortable on the continent with you, but have you ever thought about what life is like for the bloodlines below? The mortals of other immortal clan direct lines don't even need to be local emperors; at the very least, they are wealthy beyond measure with crowds of servants. My family is a dignified direct bloodline, yet my children, once found to have no spiritual apertures, are reduced to farming. Mount Qingdu only gives them enough to eat, and other places are even more ghostly in their supervision, being harsh beyond measure. If my children are like this, what about the other clansmen? My family has had a century of glory; how many tears of direct descendants are there in the corners?"

"Outsiders don't have Mount Qingdu's supervision and live quite comfortably, while the number of clansmen with cultivation on and off the continent is increasing, yet our unity is worse day by day. Has the old master ever thought about the reason? Li Chengpan is already considered good. Does the old master want to go and see how much affection those brought into the continent from the surroundings have for their families? Before they made their fortune, you made them eat chaff and vegetables; now that they have spiritual apertures, you want them to think about the lake and the common people. How can there be such a good thing!"

"I see it in my eyes and feel the pain in my heart, and in private, I take care of the younger generation as much as I can. Later, when Li Chenghuai took charge of Mount Qingdu, he was truly clean and upright, arresting several clan elders. All these things were cut off, and the lake was cleared. Does the old master know how many people are swallowing their tears below because of this clearing? They are all Wangyue bloodlines; the continent is heartless to this extent!"

He kowtowed several times with a thud and choked out, "This old man doesn't have many days left to live. Your grandson has selfish motives, and your grandson wants those sons of mine to live a better life, but your grandson also cannot bear to see the clansmen below becoming more alienated day by day. Among my children, Li Zhoufang and Li Zhouyang see it most clearly and have been fighting for protection for the children of several elders, but they have been repeatedly rejected by Mount Qingdu. If this continues... there will surely be a great disaster in the family!"

Li Li Xuanxuan listened with rapid breathing and said sternly:

"What? So you want our family to be divided into three, six, or nine grades, so that those surnamed Li can be first-class and enjoy wealth from birth to death! Other outsiders can farm when they fall, but those surnamed Li cannot?"

Li Li Xixuan bowed again, weeping bitterly, and replied, "Old master... Mount Qingchi is the first-class Mount Qingchi of the Chi Division, Ziyan is the first-class Ziyan of the Kan Wen, and even Wanyu is the first-class Wanyu of the Cheng clan. Old master, the world is a world of three, six, and nine grades. The first class is the high-level cultivators and their descendants. It is often said that sects fight for power and profit with endless internal strife, yet there is still a first class sitting on top. My family has the surname Li; why can't we be first-class?"

Li Li Xuanxuan was so angry his face turned red. He stood up from his seat with a crash, raised his foot, and kicked the man in the head, sending him rolling several meters away. The old man shouted:

"You... you have read the books on Mount Qingdu in vain!"

Li Li Xixuan's fair face was covered in blood as he cried, "Your humble servant has indeed read the books! Old master! This time it was only to prove that the divine mystery might also be wrong, to release those clan elders and boost the clan's morale. Cheng did not know the inside story... I know he felt sorry for Li Chengpan and was dragged into the water, but he also understood the gravity of the situation and came to help me. Li Xingsai just died... Cheng, as a father, didn't utter a single word of complaint. Now that he has come out to help me, it shows where the hearts of the people lie! On the contrary, it was Yu Xie and Li Chengzhi who cherished their feathers... and retreated halfway! Old master, can loyalty and treachery be distinguished!"

Li Li Xuanxuan was burning with rage and began to cough, which scared Li Li Xixuan so much that the rest of his words were blocked in his throat. He only saw the old man fiercely flick his sleeves and grit his teeth:

"Get out! Get out of here!"

Li Li Xixuan kowtowed three times and retreated in a soul-lost state. Li Li Xuanxuan coughed violently for a while before sitting back down in his seat, scaring Li Li Shuya into bringing him tea with red eyes.

He sat in his seat until late at night, took a wooden box from the courtyard, and took out a jade slip to stroke it. These things were all Li Li Tongya's former handwriting, which Li Li Xuanxuan had kept well. Now he looked at them over and over again, silent and speechless.

Wangyue Lake.

Li Li Zhouluo returned to the lake and interrogated the families on the west bank overnight. As expected, the problem still lay with Li Hun and Ren Ting. No one knew who was directing it from above, but the things below were all carried out by Li Hun. Li Hun was sentenced to death and was still in the hall.

The result of the interrogation was that all four people felt they were already doing evil. Ren Ting not only failed to realize that it was a fawning gesture sent from below, but even in his memory, the He woman was not surnamed He. Although Li Hun had noticed it, his words pointed entirely to An Xuanxin.

"If Father used magic to investigate, the four of them should be innocent, and the people on the west bank have problems, but upon closer investigation, the people on the west bank are also innocent... The people in the middle have either died... or left..."

He faintly sensed something and was busy and overwhelmed when he saw Li Li Zhoufang enter from outside the hall and bow respectfully. This elder brother already had a long beard and looked middle-aged. Li Li Zhouluo hurriedly put down what he was holding and nodded:

"Thank you, Elder Brother."

Li Li Zhoufang appeared somewhat exhausted, shook his head low, and replied, "This matter makes Uncle Cheng very embarrassed. I really couldn't sit still, and I didn't want to bear the name of being unfilial... There is a reason for finding the Family Head... Uncle's daughter, Sister Li Xingsai, has passed away, and there is still a child..."

Li Li Zhouluo clenched his pen, almost able to guess what he was going to say next. Fortunately, footsteps suddenly arose at the next moment, and a Mount Yuting Guard entered urgently, bowing: "Family Head, urgent report from the wilderness! Lord Cui and the Kong family have arrived on the continent!"

Li Li Zhoufang was the most law-abiding, and besides, matters of protection were never urgent. He shook his sleeves and immediately took his leave. Although Li Li Zhouluo had gained a breathing space, he was even more anxious about the affairs in the east and immediately ordered people to come up.

Cui Cui Jueyin walked in from the front of the hall in a Daoist robe. He was now ranked alongside Ding Ding Weijian as the two strongest combat forces of the Li family and was quite respected. Li Li Zhouluo walked down quickly. Cui Cui Jueyin bowed and said concisely, "Reporting to the Family Head, the reason for the Duxian's retreat has been clarified. The overseas lineage 【Xuanquan Nuqing Great Dao】 emerged from the river, killed their way into Mount Shanjie, forced away the 【Bai Ye Duxian Dao】, and occupied the Xuanyue mountain gate!"

"True Person Zhu Gong of the 【Xuanquan Nuqing Great Dao】 established a gate in the mountain, claiming to inherit the Tongxuan lineage, and established a branch 【Ganshan Xuanmu Shenquan Nuqing Dao】, abbreviated as 【Muquan Gate】. They help the poor and integrate the Xuanyue Gate, which is also a Tongxuan lineage, renaming the Xuanyue mountain gate as Muquan Mountain and officially establishing a system!"

Li Li Zhouluo was shocked and watched as Cui Cui Jueyin continued:

"Three months later, True Person Zhu Gong will host a banquet for all cultivators at Muquan Mountain. I heard that cultivators from the Ziyan Gate went up the mountain today, and True Person Senior Tinglan of the Ziyan Blessed Land went there in person."

Compared to Li Li Zhouluo's shock, Cui Cui Jueyin actually had some expectations. After all, he had followed Li Li Ximing to the Ziyan Gate and had chatted with Ziyan Gate cultivators for a long time, receiving some side-handed news.

Above, Li Li Zhouluo listened to his words and asked, "How did the Kong family react?"

The 【Muquan Gate】 inherited the legacy of the Xuanyue Gate under the name of helping the poor. The Kong family's status, which had already fallen to the edge, suddenly became sensitive. Li Li Zhouluo grasped the key to the problem, and Cui Cui Jueyin clearly had observed it for a long time, replying, "Most of the Kong family members are confused and at a loss. Two younger members of the Kong family inquired about the news of 【Muquan Gate】 and were driven back by Kong Kong Guxi. At present, the Xuanyue side has no intention of contacting 【Muquan Gate】, and 【Muquan Gate】 has not sent anyone to contact the Kong family yet."

Li Li Zhouluo breathed a sigh of relief, glad that his family's status had not yet become awkward, but saw Chen Yang enter from outside the hall in a hurry, bowing: "Family Head! An envoy from 【Muquan Gate】 has arrived on the continent! They say they are here to deliver an invitation."

Upon hearing this news, the attitude of 【Muquan Gate】 could clearly be considered friendly. Li Li Zhouluo said happily, "Welcome them up immediately!"

Then he saw a young man in golden clothes and green robes enter the hall. His skin was fair, his clothes were gorgeous, and his face was full of smiles. Behind him followed a man wearing a bamboo hat and plain clothes, whose face could not be seen clearly. The young man said:

"Dai Dai Jinquan of the 【Ganshan Xuanmu Shenquan Nuqing Dao】 meets the Family Head. A happy event is approaching; may the immortal clan remain evergreen and continue from generation to generation..."

He offered a long string of festive congratulations. Li Li Zhouluo squeezed out a smile and replied, "I have often heard of the great name of the Immortal Dao. Now that you have moved into the sea and gained a precious land, it is truly a joyous and congratulatory event..."

After all, the Li family was protecting the Kong clan, and the 【Muquan Gate】 cultivators occupying someone else's mountain gate was somewhat troublesome. When Dai Dai Jinquan heard this, the joy on his face increased. He took a golden-green invitation from his sleeve and said:

"I suppose your clan has also heard that three months later, our True Person will host a banquet for all cultivators at Muquan Mountain. At that time, I hope the immortal clan will do us the honor of coming to drink some wine..."

He achieved his goal, said a few nice words, and then stopped. The man wearing the bamboo hat behind him stepped forward, took off the hat, and revealed a spirited face.

Wen Wu of the 【Ziyan Gate】! Wen Wu took a purple-gold token from his sleeve and said solemnly:

"I am Wen Wu of the Ziyan Gate. I have met the Family Head before. This trip is to convey the meaning of the True Person, taking advantage of the 【Muquan Gate】's itinerary."

As soon as these words were spoken, Cui Cui Jueyin immediately used pupil techniques to identify him. Wen Wu presented the token in his hand, from which a purple smoke divine ability emerged, taking shape on the spot. Everyone was shocked, and Li Li Zhouluo also left his seat to bow.

Then he saw this purple smoke transform into True Person Senior Tinglan, who stood still in the hall, scanned it, recognized Cui Cui Jueyin, raised her eyebrows, and said:

"Cui Jueyin, your True Person Can Zhaojing had arrangements long ago and has already discussed it with him at Ziyan. The Xuanyue lineage belongs to 【Muquan Gate】... Out of consideration for Wangyue's face, Zhu Gong will not touch it first. If your family makes arrangements early, it will look good for both sides."

Cui Cui Jueyin responded respectfully. The True Person disappeared. Dai Dai Jinquan and Wen Wu, who were kneeling on the ground, bowed to see them off. Only then did everyone stand up. Wen Wu put on his bamboo hat and said nothing, and the two left.

Li Li Zhouluo let Chen Yang send them out personally, breathed a sigh of relief, and ordered:

"Let the Xuanyue people come up!"

He wondered:

'Is Xuanyue also a Tongxuan lineage? It's not impossible...'

There is one Tongxuan lineage in Jiangbei, which is the Xuanmiao Temple entrusted by Senior Changxi. Su Mian has always considered herself a descendant of the Tongxuan 【Xuxiang】. Li Li Zhouluo pondered, "Xuanmiao Temple starts with Brother Xuan, and Xuanyue Gate also starts with Brother Xuan. The full name of 【Muquan Gate】 is 【Ganshan Xuanmu Shenquan Nuqing Dao】. Calling it Ganshan Xuanmu Dao is also fine; it actually starts with the character Brother Xuan..."

Just as he was thinking, Kong Kong Guxi had already hurried up. This Sect Master had a nervous expression and tears all over his face. He bowed in the hall and said respectfully:

"Family Head... my family's mountain gate has now been snatched away by 【Muquan Gate】..."

He used the word "snatched" to clarify his position. Li Li Zhouluo was suspicious, but his face showed a sorrowful and indignant expression as he said:

"Sect Master Kong, I heard that 【Muquan Gate】 calls your family a Tongxuan lineage... why have you never mentioned it?"

Upon hearing this, even Kong Kong Guxi showed a trace of resentment and desolation on his face. The Sect Master bowed and said, "Reporting to the Family Head, the Tongxuan lineage has a great background and has origins with my family's 'Yu Gan Mountain'. When my family's True Person established the gate, he hung the lineage under the Tongxuan lineage and called himself 【Xuangguang Yiyue Great Dao】. However, because the lineage was incomplete and he couldn't even point out the founder, it was never recognized by others, and later he stopped mentioning this name."

"When the True Person was alive, he once traveled day and night for this name, just hoping for the world's recognition, but in the end, it came to nothing. Now... now it has reached such a point! For the sake of annexation, they have instead recognized it!"

Li Li Zhouluo nodded heavily, walked forward, solemnly helped Kong Kong Guxi up, and replied:

"Sect Master Kong, we have discussed it carefully. Although the Duxian has retreated now, it is not certain that they will not move south. Our True Person is not here, and the wilderness is full of crises... I am only afraid that we will not be able to protect your gate at that time..."

"At present, Muquan Gate has expelled the Duxian Dao, and True Person Zhu Gong protects Xuanyue. I heard that they are searching for Xuanyue disciples everywhere in Mount Shanjie County. Why doesn't the Sect Master take people there to avoid the Duxian Dao's secret harm and preserve the lineage!"

Kong Kong Guxi felt cold in his heart.

From the moment 【Muquan Gate】 claimed to help Xuanyue, his hope of re-establishing the sect vanished—【Muquan Gate】 had already helped and merged to save the Xuanyue lineage. What was the meaning of a Xuanyue Gate appearing in the west? This Sect Master did not want to leave the Li family a few days ago because the timing was not ripe, not because he had given up on the lineage. Now, it was impossible for him not to have hatred for 【Muquan Gate】. His previous words had already expressed it to the maximum extent.

But Li Li Zhouluo's meaning was clearer: the current general trend was not something he or the Wangyue Li family could stop. Kong Kong Guxi felt his whole body go soft, knelt down in a daze, and said in a low voice, "Fa... Family Head..."

Character List————

Li Li Xuanxuan 【Qi Refining Level 9】 【Bo Lineage Direct Line】

Li Li Xixuan 【Mortal】 【Bo Lineage】 【Sun Er of Li Li Xuanxuan】

Li Li Shuya 【Mortal】 【Brother of Li Li Quewan】

Li Li Zhouluo 【Qi Refining Level 8】 【Family Head】

Li Li Zhoufang 【Qi Refining Level 7】 【Bo Lineage Direct Line】 【Eldest Brother】

Cui Cui Jueyin "Tuoba Changming Stage" 【Foundation Establishment Late Stage】

Dai Dai Jinquan 【Muquan Gate】

Wen Wu 【Ziyan Gate】

Kong Kong Guxi "Yu Gan Mountain" 【Foundation Establishment Late Stage】 【Xuanyue Sect Master】