Family Cultivation: I Become a Mirror

Li Chengliao smiled as he looked around at his brothers and sisters before speaking again:

"I've heard that our clan has recently acquired a new technique called 'Pheasant Fire Long March Technique', a splendid fourth grade method. Consuming the 'Long March Pheasant Fire' one can cultivate an Immortal Foundation called 'Pheasant Departure Technique'."

The girl beside him, Li Minggong, eagerly asked:

"What's so marvelous about it?"

"How would I know?"

Li Chengliao replied irritably, and the youngsters burst into excited chatter, their eyes filled with longing, while Li Chengyi also indulged in his fantasies, his head bowed in silent contemplation.

Li Xijun, standing to the side of Li Yuanjiao, spoke softly:

"They're all quite decent, at least they've all grown up in the Qingdu Cave Mansion, taught day by day, without any of the spoiled lot among them."

Li Yuanjiao nodded slightly, and his nephew lamented:

"It's just a pity that, although these children have more talent than their parents, they are all conforming to the norms, with little hope of Foundation Establishment."

Li Xijun's words were very tactful. In reality, without some fortuitous encounter, it's feared that these kids might not even reach the Ninth Layer of Qi Cultivation. Li Yuanjiao hummed in agreement, his eyes displaying a rare tenderness, and smiled:

"In the past, your granduncle was also ordinary among his four brothers, hoping only to cultivate Qi, yet who could have imagined he would become renowned in South River? As long as one has a Spirit Aperture, there is always hope."

"It's just a pity..."

Li Yuanjiao paused slightly:

"None of these children are favored by Immortal Artifacts; they can be pillars of our clan, but not leaders."

Li Xijun cast his eyes down, and Li Yuanjiao said with a smile:

"Let's go down and have a look."

Li Chengliao was picking up wooden weapons from the ground when the boisterous voices of his brothers around him suddenly faded away. Silence fell, so profound that one could hear a pin drop, save for Li Minggong's voice, tense with anxiety:

"Liao-ge... Liao-ge..."

Called by his peers from either side, Li Chengliao looked up and only then realized a young man stood before him, dressed in white, carefree and elegant, with a sword slung on his back, and an otherworldly demeanor.

His eyes lit up with excitement, and he stammered nervously:

"Liao'er pays respects to his Uncle Father!"

Li Xijun was taken aback as he realized the child was his elder brother Li Xihong's eldest son, whom he had met before. When the boy had been born, he had yet to be named, but ten years had swiftly passed, and he was now unrecognizable.

"Your name is Li Chengliao?"

He asked somewhat awkwardly, then gently said:

"Liao'er... come... pay your respects to your granduncle."

Only then did Li Chengliao notice another middle-aged man standing beside Li Xijun, with close-set brows and slightly elongated eyes, dressed in a plain black robe with a sword on his back.

'Granduncle?!'

Who else could be addressed as 'granduncle' so respectfully by Li Xijun? And with Li Yuanjiao's attire, Li Chengliao felt a mix of awe and exhilaration, bowing down incredulously, and trembling slightly:

"Chengliao pays respects... to granduncle!"

The heads of the other young boys and girls, which had just been lifted, now lowered again in an instant, not daring to make eye contact, and they knelt down together, proclaiming in unison:

"The younger generation pays respects to granduncle!"

Li Chengliao looked up too reverently, causing Li Yuanjiao to avert his gaze slightly and, with a gentle wave of his hand, lifted the group to their feet, thinking to himself:

'If Zhong-father were here, these little rascals would be overjoyed.'

Musing to himself, Li Yuanjiao was always gentle with his own family, and he softly asked:

"Which branches of the major clan lineages do you all come from?"

"From the direct lineage of Zhong, Li Chengliao!"

Li Chengliao took the lead, and the girl beside him, Li Minggong, the oldest sister, respectfully said:

"From the complete branch lineage of Bo, the eldest sister, Li Minggong."

"From the junior branch lineage of Yuanyun of Zhong, Li Chengyi."

"..."

All twelve introduced themselves according to their age. Li Yuanjiao nodded, calculated their ages and realized that even those with the best talents, like Li Minggong and Li Chengyi, only had potential similar to that of Li Xihong. He then said softly:

"Work hard at your cultivation. There are many techniques in the clan, and apart from a few that require the gathering of too much spiritual energy... you can read through them and choose the cultivation techniques you prefer."

The youths acknowledged his words, and Li Yuanjiao glanced at the weapons scattered on the ground. Indeed, if they were not spears, they were swords, occasionally accompanied by a bow or two. He advised:

"Whatever weapons you prefer, you may learn. Don't just focus on these three. All types of weapons should be mastered by someone in our clan. We can go to the market to find the techniques for you."

After speaking, he said softly:

"Have you ever killed a person? Have you ever killed a demon?"

Seeing that all the disciples shook their heads, Li Yuanjiao formed a plan in his heart. He turned to Li Xijun and said,

"Let Xihong know, now that there are many in the family practicing Qi Cultivation, the Fetal Breathing demons caught in various towns should not be killed carelessly. Bring them here for the children to get a taste of blood."

"Yes."

Li Xijun replied with a smile, while the Chengming generation seemed not at all afraid, but rather eager to try. Li Yuanjiao paused, then pondered aloud,

"As for killing people... there will be plenty of opportunities in the future... no need to rush."

Not to mention the direct lineage of the Li Family who had died, but just the Guest Elders and cultivators who had died from accidents were already more than fifty in number, either killed by demons or harmed by passing Loose Cultivators or Devil Cultivators. Although South River was calmer than the East Sea, cases of murder for the sake of seizing treasures were still to be seen everywhere.

Li Yuanjiao gave guidance on the children's cultivation practices, and under the eager request of a cheerful Li Xijun, he reluctantly demonstrated the Jing Dragon King technique for the juniors to see.

The likes of Li Chengliao started off cheering, but when the ashen-gray serpent dragon bared its fangs and claws, they were so horrified that they turned pale and dropped their weapons, collapsing to the ground.

Rejecting Li Xijun's suggestion to subdivide the Immortal Foundation into smaller beings like snakes, shrimps, crabs, and fish to give the Chengming generation a good beating, Li Yuanjiao took Li Xijun and floated away, riding the clouds, and disappeared above the Cave Mansion.

It took a while for the children to recover after the two left, but their admiration for the power of Foundation Establishment grew even more. Li Chengliao's heart was pounding with excitement, and when he looked at his brothers and sisters around him, they were all extremely excited.

"Come, come, come, let's go practice!"

Li Yuanjiao, watching the joyful expression beside him, finally let out some laughter. He said in a muffled voice,

"You really are like uncle and nephew, your playfulness is just like Qinghong's! Never serious."

Li Yuanjiao whispered,

"As a child, she insisted on using a spear to hook peaches and tricked Yuanyun into catching them. She knocked Yuanyun on the head, making him cry. She still laughed cheerfully and always waited for my scolding with a smile before she would stop."

Li Xijun pursed his lips in a smile, for he saw clearly the laughter in Li Yuanjiao's eyes. Not mentioning the older brother and only obediently listening, he nodded and agreed with a hum.

After speaking a few words, Li Yuanjiao snapped out of his reminiscence, belatedly realizing he had shown a lapse in his demeanor, and switched back to a serious manner, though his tone was much gentler,

"The children are all good, very lovable."

Li Xijun also bowed and said softly,

"I've already asked Ming about Uncle Xuanxuan's matter. He has always wanted to meet you."

"Good."

Li Yuanjiao intoned,

"I'll go over now."

Li Xijun nodded, took his leave, and went to Wutu Mountain by riding the wind, to give Li Ximing a heads up and spare Li Yuanjiao from walking into any awkward situations.

Li Yuanjiao clearly understood what was going on, but although he knew, he preferred not to confront the situation directly. He waited until the timing was right before slowly making his way to Wutu Mountain.

Wutu Mountain.

Li Ximing had already been tidying up and waiting. When the uncle and nephew took their seats, Li Yuanjiao listened to him report everything with great respect, resisting the urge to ask if "Was it Xijun who taught you this?". He said somberly,

"The situation is indeed good... The Hengzhu Sect has been operating this path for many years. What did your great-uncle say?"

Li Ximing hastened to reply,

"Xijun asked him already. The old man insists on completing the Talisman drawing for the next two years before leaving, so it will be delayed a while longer."

"It's good if he's willing to go."

Li Yuanjiao looked him up and down, praised,

"Not bad, approaching the Seventh Layer of Qi Cultivation."

Li Ximing quickly said,

"I could have broken through, but considering that I have been progressing too quickly lately, I feared that my foundation was not stable, hence I have not yet made the breakthrough."

"Hmm."

Li Yuanjiao nodded, for the teachings Li Ximing received in cultivation from both the Li and Xiao families would not likely lead him to make such a mistake.

His gaze swept through the courtyard, and he caught sight of a painting hanging in the corner, more than half-finished. The painting depicted Li Ximing sitting, dressed in white, with a very calm expression on his face.

Li Yuanjiao narrowed his eyes slightly and said softly,

"The painting is indeed lifelike."

Li Ximing nodded, somewhat awkwardly, and Li Yuanjiao turned his head to look at him,

"Do you still like it?"

Li Ximing was taken aback, and answered,

"It's just a painting, there's no question of liking it or not."

Li Yuanjiao just sighed and walked out with his hands behind his back.