Family Cultivation: I Become a Mirror

Qingdu Cave Mansion.

The tightly closed stone doors slowly opened, and Li Qinghong stepped out gracefully, her breath steady and robust. The thunderbolt around her had receded significantly, leaving only specks of cold light on the tips of her hair and the edges of her clothing.

During her seclusion, Li Qinghong had stabilized her Cultivation Level. Compared to the dazzling brilliance when she first made her breakthrough, she now seemed less conspicuous, and it was difficult to discern her Immortal Foundation at a glance.

Li Yuanjiao had already agreed with her to head to Hengdong County's Hengzhu Taoism in the spirit mist of the Mysterious Pattern, following Li Xuanxuan and the other three. Thus, Li Qinghong came out of seclusion to watch over their home.

She immediately rode the winds out. Wearing jade boots, she stepped on the Purple Lightning and descended. Li Xihong was in the Central Hall dealing with affairs, with two piles of letters stacked on his desk, looking very busy.

Only then did Li Qinghong descend. In the hall, there was a rustling sound as many kneeled down. Li Xihong also hurriedly stood up and respectfully said,

"Aunt has come out of the mountains... the Prayer-Inducing Thunder Altar is already under construction, with sixty percent of the work period left. It can be completed within a year."

"Good."

Li Qinghong responded amiably. Her Immortal Foundation, Mysterious Thunder Berth, had the effect of invoking and attracting lightning, but she did not yet know if it would work; she could only build a platform to test it first.

Li Qinghong had people sent out earlier to build the platform, which was quite troublesome. It required engraving Formation Patterns, collecting Spiritual Objects, and forging thirty-six hexagonal copper vessels. Even for a Foundation Establishment Cultivator, this was a considerable effort.

Fortunately, there were plenty of members of the Li family. Li Qinghong only had to engrave the Formation Patterns, and naturally, Li Xihong sent people to handle the rest.

Li Xihong assented, taking out two small letters from the desk and respectfully said,

"The Jade Courtyard Guards from our family who have been to Xu Country and Zhao Country have sent back messages. Please have a look, aunt."

With a delicate gesture from Li Qinghong, two letters unfolded one after the other in front of her.

One letter was news from Zhao Country; Chu Yi, with the Separation Fire Spear, headed north in Zhao Country, destroying three Hu Jie Noble Families and six major and minor temples. Facing a horde of pursuers, he made a breakthrough to Zifu on the battlefield and then entered a certain peak in Luoxia Mountain for cultivation.

Li Qinghong was left stunned. Normally, someone at the Foundation Establishment stage wanting to achieve Zifu would not know how much preparation was needed: finding a suitable place to seclude themselves and searching for various Spiritual Objects to set up formations, also waiting for divine inspiration to match their Immortal Foundation.

Even with so much preparation, one would still need to stack various Elixirs and spend many years in seclusion within a Great Formation.

'This Chu Yi's breakthrough seems like child's play; just saying the words seems to make it happen... Breaking through to Zifu in just months is simply unheard of.'

'He has already achieved Zifu... It's been no more than ten years... And the breakthrough was so trivial... He must be the reincarnation of a Golden Core.'

That Chu Yi had gone from Foundation Establishment to achieving Zifu in just about ten years—the fact almost blatantly told the world that he, Chu Yi, was indeed the reincarnation of a Golden Core. The three Hu Jie Noble Families and the temples were nothing but sacrifices presented by the Buddhist Practitioners and the pitiful who could not read the situation.

"Ten years... Truly the methods of a Golden Core."

However, the letter did not mention Chu Yi's Immortal Foundation or his Divine Skills, presumably because such news could not be found, causing Li Qinghong a bit of disappointment.

'Luoxia Mountain has almost no contact with South River. With Chu Yi returning to the mountain, he must be assuming his rightful place as a Golden Core again, unlikely to return.'

As for the Noble Families of Yu Fu County that were annihilated, and the powers that were eradicated, no one cared much. Li Qinghong glanced over it and recorded it in her mind, then looked at the second letter:

It spoke of a group of Devil Cultivators who had come to a desolate mountain by the Great River to the north. They occupied a few small mountains, and while it was a trivial matter, a Loose Cultivator escaped to this region. Otherwise, the Li family wouldn't even be aware of the incident.

However, according to this Loose Cultivator, while the Devil Cultivators weren't high in Cultivation Levels, one of them wielded a Blood-Colored Treasure Mirror of great power, with many inquired details to follow.

"A Blood-Colored Treasure Mirror?!"

Li Qinghong's gaze suddenly turned cold:

"Zhang Huaide?!"

Li Xihong nodded and replied in a low voice:

"According to the Loose Cultivator's description, it should be this wretch without a doubt!"

During the demon disaster some years ago, a group of Devil Cultivators came from the west, among them Zhang Huaide and Qiu Ji. They killed Tian Youdao, injured Li Xuanxuan and Xu Gongming before escaping in a panic. Zhang Huaide had a background and used an Escape Skill to flee unscathed, with his magic artifact being a blood-colored mirror.

Zhang Huaide didn't matter much, but Qiu Ji was the one who killed her brother Li Yuanyun and almost caused Li Xuanxuan's death. Li Qinghong held a deep hatred, and she simply said in a low voice,

"What Cultivation Level is he now?"

"It is said that he has reached the Ninth Layer of Qi Cultivation."

Li Xihong answered reluctantly and continued,

"All the Devil Cultivators are Qi Cultivators, mostly in the Middle and Late Stages of Qi Cultivation."

He thought about how to persuade his aunt next, but Li Qinghong looked hesitant:

'With my brother away and most of the family's combat power gone, Zhang Huaide appears at this time?'

Although she harbored deep hatred, she understood that this was probably not a coincidence. Swallowing her resentment, she softly said,

"Too suspicious, send someone else to investigate."

"Yes!"

Li Xihong nodded in agreement. Li Qinghong then rose with the wind, repeatedly instructing,

"Find out clearly! The arrival of that Loose Cultivator at our family seems too coincidental; do not trust easily."

Li Xihong nodded his agreement and watched Li Qinghong leave before returning to his seat. He flipped through the ledger and then looked at Dou Yi at the lower end of the table, speaking softly,

"One hundred and eighty-one pounds, is this all the Mi Water Cold Iron we have for this year?"

Dou Yi's hair had turned grey, and he appeared much steadier. He replied gravely,

"Your Honor, that is all we have."