The Mirror Legacy

Chapter 1215: Guest From The Southern Sea (I)

Li Zhouluo sat in the main hall. Earlier that morning, he had taken Li Zhoufang to Li Xuanxuan to “plead earnestly,” putting on quite the performance. Now, at last, he had some time to handle family affairs as he set his brush aside in thought.

Phoenix Tail Stone is extremely scarce in the northern Yue region… Its main deposits are all within the Azure Pond Sect territory… I should write a letter to the Azure Pond Sect to inquire. I remember Grandfather has a disciple serving in the market there; having him help would be best.

The Purple Stable Valley Penetrating Mountain Profound Pin was a precious Purple Mansion Realm formation core. Even with Moongaze’s wealth and the family’s ample mineral reserves, plus the spiritual items supplied by Profound Peak Gate, the remaining expenses still amounted to around fifteen hundred Spirit Stones.

The Li Family’s treasury held around six hundred Spirit Stones, but Li Zhouluo was unconcerned about insufficient funds. The real challenge was that forging such an item required vast quantities of spirit items. Some were scarce, while others highly sought after. Having Spirit Stones alone did not mean they could be spent.

The price of spiritual qi in our household keeps soaring… Several clansmen have already complained… Cultivators of humble birth can no longer afford it, and rely only on the few allocations granted each year to the gifted by the prefecture…

Such issues were all too common. In Jiangnan, the spiritual qi used for Qi Cultivation Realm was priced at twenty to thirty Spirit Stones per portion purely due to scarcity. The Li Family’s rise had given Moongaze Lake a strong, organized qi gathering capacity, yet the influx of countless Embryonic Breathing Realm cultivators had not alleviated the shortage of Minor Pure Spiritual Qi; it had, in fact, intensified demand.

Interestingly, this basic form of spiritual qi was useless without a proper cultivation method. The Li Family’s ascent had also triggered an unexpected transformation. As more cultivators began cultivating the River Pure Qi technique, the once-worthless River Pure Qi that was scarcely known a century ago, gradually gained value in the market.

The Li Family, which controlled all of Moongaze Lake, produced a considerable amount of River Pure Qi each year. Setting aside the extravagant sixty Spirit Stone profit margin of the Azure Pond Sect’s Xieqi Peak, the price of this qi had once risen to over thirty Spirit Stones. Without this River Pure Qi, at least half of the foreign cultivators practicing Qi Cultivation Realm would have perished.

There are snow mountains along the northern shore near the great river. We should station people there permanently; the River Pure Qi there exceeds even that of Moongaze Lake… It would be best to find a Mansion Water qi gathering method suitable for use on the lake.

As he pondered and began drafting the letter, he was interrupted by Dili Guang’s report. When he heard that the capable Ding Weizeng and Wang Quwan had arrived, his heart jolted, and he immediately ordered them to be brought in.

“Greetings, family head!”

Ding Weizeng bowed first and explained Wang Quwan’s situation in detail. Li Zhouluo found it rather strange. The command token had been delivered solely to Dili Guang’s hands, so he instructed the man from Mount Yue to examine it carefully.

Li Zhouluo set his brush down and asked in puzzlement, “Wanglin Upper Sect is indeed an extraordinary Dao lineage. But as for this so-called underground palace… I doubt it’s a good place. How was it never discovered back when countless died and the earth shook after the Immortals and Buddhists slaughtered each other in Jiangbei? If it were truly reemerging, why didn’t it surface when blood and vitality surged, when spiritual energy overflowed, and eighteen monks fell with the riverbanks dyed pink? Why would it only appear now, when spiritual energy has long since calmed and settled?”

Since he came from a much higher background, Li Zhouluo understood nearly the full truth behind the north and south conflict, as well as the real principles governing the emergence of ancient ruins. His suspicion deepened.

Unwilling to let two Foundation Establishment Realm cultivators remain kneeling below, he rose from his seat, helped them up, and spoke softly, “With the Daoist Master away and the elders all in seclusion, this matter may not be appropriate.”

Wang Quwan was a clever man. He immediately understood the hidden meaning and replied, “Thank you for your guidance, family head. This command token was something I obtained by chance in battle. I brought it to submit to the family; please have the elders examine it and decide afterward.”

Li Zhouluo frowned and shook his head. His family’s Purple Mansion Realm cultivator was away, and had always abided by the principle that fewer troubles are better. Even if that underground palace contained Purple Mansion Realm spiritual items, it would not tempt him.

Thus, he said, “The item remains yours. Keep it safe and observe quietly. I’ll report this to the elders; once there’s news, I’ll call for you.”

Dili Guang had already handed the command token back. Wang Quwan was momentarily startled and about to speak, but Ding Weizeng swiftly took it on his behalf. Li Zhouluo turned and continued, “The Wang Family of Jiangbei has long struggled under the shadow of greater houses. Wang He of the Capital Immortal Dao is your family’s leader; has he done anything troublesome of late?”

Wang Quwan hurriedly bowed and answered, “Family head, my Family Uncle Wang He has repeatedly sent people over these years to offer his regards, and even provided many spirit items for aid. However, my younger brother has declined them all, and these matters have already been reported to the family.”

Li Jianglong submitted such reports monthly, and Li Zhouluo was certainly aware of them. Yet the matter was serious enough for him to ask again, and he said with a shake of his head, “Though Wang He is far older and stronger than you, his innate ability is quite poor. He’s barely regarded at all in the Capital Immortal Dao. Naturally, he’ll try to curry favor in every way.”

Wang Quwan bowed low, then glanced at Ding Weizeng, who nodded. He respectfully said, “Family head, the loyalty of the Wang Family of Floating South can be witnessed by all!”

Li Zhouluo replied, “I know! The Milin Palace has resumed operations and the Wang Family may send two disciples inside. Judging by your bearing, Quwan, I trust your juniors won’t fall short. They’re bound for great achievements.”

Both men had their duties and soon withdrew. Li Zhouluo, considering that he had to send a letter to Li Xizhi’s people anyway, decided to include this matter in it. He worked without rest, and once the letter was dispatched, the morning’s responsibilities were nearly complete. He then hurried off to arrange Li Xixuan’s release.

Li Zhoufang had been waiting outside the hall for some time, barely restraining his impatience. When he saw Li Zhouluo, he quickly stepped forward.

Li Zhouluo gave a heavy nod and said, “Since the old elder has agreed, let’s go and invite the elder out.”

“Thank you, family head!” Li Zhoufang nodded repeatedly. “Only the family head’s personal plea could have moved the old elder. No matter what, Uncle Xixuan is still Aunt Minggong’s father—how could we keep him locked in the ancestral hall? If he were to take things badly… if anything happened to him, what would become of the family?”

Both men were Qi Cultivation Realm cultivators and covered the short distance in moments. Li Zhouluo unfastened the dharma artifact at his waist, handed it to the Qingdu cultivator beside him, removed his shoes, and entered the hall. There, he saw the plump, white-faced Li Xixuan, clad in a plain robe, reading quietly at the desk.

When the two entered, Li Xixuan stood briefly to greet Family Head Li Zhouluo, then sat back down at once.

“Congratulations, granduncle! The family head pleaded tirelessly with the old elder and finally secured your release…”

“Oh…”

Li Zhoufang, full of joy, invited him to step outside, but the old man appeared weary and indifferent, his enthusiasm faint.

The act staged by Li Xuanxuan and Li Zhouluo could deceive nine out of ten people, but not veteran family elders like Li Xixuan and Li Chengzhi. Li Xixuan instantly heard the harmony in their tone as grandfather and grandson put on a show, and realized he had truly become an outsider. He sat quietly at the desk, his figure lonely.

The old man refused to play along, and Li Zhoufang could only grow anxious. Both sides were obstinate, leaving him, as the elder brother, torn and helpless.

Li Zhouluo smiled and said, “Elder brother, wait a moment. Let me have a few words alone with granduncle.”

Li Zhoufang immediately withdrew. Li Xixuan, leaning weakly against the desk, watched as the young man before him personally poured a cup of tea and said softly, “Granduncle, there are nineteen nephews and over a hundred grandchildren within your courtyard. Yuanwan’s lineage has only one estate on the island. You’ve toiled among these hundred people all this time, and the old elder has seen how hard it has been for you.”