Family Cultivation: I Become a Mirror

Li Xijun and Kongheng rode the wind northward, following the Mushroom Forest Plain as they headed south. Li Xuanxuan trailed behind in flight. Suddenly, Li Xijun remembered something, pulled Kongheng aside, and whispered:

"Mage, since you cultivated by chance at Leibo... why didn't you say so earlier?"

"I once heard of the perils in the South River, truly did not dare to… My cultivation technique is of high grade… If a noble suspects me of ulterior motives, I in turn fear the noble covets my life and fortune..."

Kongheng stroked his fair, smooth head, narrowed his fine eyes, and spoke softly:

"Ah, let me speak plainly with you, Taoist Fellow… The method I cultivate requires the birth of the Nine Thunders by heaven and earth. Yet the fruit of this Dao remains empty in the world; the Thunder Dharma does not manifest, and it is already hard to find. Only when a thunder cultivator breaks through and condenses an Immortal Foundation will one of the Nine Thunders be born."

"The elders of my temple, before their passing, divined for a long time before deducing that in the past hundred years the South River would surely give rise to thunderbolts. Thus, they dispatched me here, also foreseeing a tribulation within, from which I might temper my mind…"

He lowered his brows and eyes, tone gentle:

"Yuanjiao Taoist Fellow always doubted me… in truth, to speak plainly, my Liaohe Temple… has fallen so low it cannot compare to the noble. After the abbot passed into meditation, I am as a stray dog, with nowhere to go."

Li Xijun nodded slightly, growing vigilant within. He asked:

"How long since your temple's elder passed?"

"It has been... more than forty years!"

Kongheng replied. Li Xijun computed inwardly—precisely when Ling Yanzi of Ziyan Sect fled to his house and was rescued by his ancestor, leaving behind that "Purple Thunder Secret Essence Technique."

"Over forty years now… Several thunder cultivators have emerged in the South River. If there's a Zifu scheme among them, it must all have been laid more than forty years ago, together…"

Li Xijun had never met Ling Yanzi, but he had read the clan's history and knew this person had been received by Li Tongya. He mused:

'Ling Yanzi… he could hardly have fooled the patriarch, so perhaps Ling Yanzi himself was unaware and unwittingly became someone else's piece. Ziyan Sect… could it be the Perfected One of Ziyan Sect?'

He immediately asked:

"Does the mage know of 'Thundercloud Temple'?"

Kongheng shook his head slightly, indicating his ignorance. Li Xijun weighed certain things silently, musing:

"It seems I must find an opportunity to visit Ziyan Sect and ask Ling Yanzi myself."

Li Xijun guessed at the worst, thinking:

"It's best if this is exactly because Ling Yanzi and the others brought such an item from Thundercloud Temple, was discovered by the abbot of Liaohe, and sent Kongheng down the mountain…"

Weighing matters in his mind, Li Xijun and the others had already passed through Changxiao Sect's Helin County. After a short rest, they stopped in the mountains at one end of Helin County.

Li Xijun used his eyesight power; snow Qi surged. Examining the terrain, he spoke softly:

"This should be the place. We just crossed Quanwu Mountain, and ahead lies the Helin Mountain Range, where earth veins converge. The several water veins described in the 'Cold Snow Collection' all gather here."

This journey was half real, half a pretense—on the surface, Li Xijun was still gathering cold water. Li Xuanxuan still wore gray and followed with a stern face. Kongheng, on the other hand, was interested, gazing at the surrounding mountains and murmuring:

"Indeed, the water veins in the South River are abundant."

Li Xijun nodded lightly and turned to Li Xuanxuan, respectfully saying:

"Great-Uncle has read the 'Cold Snow Collection' on the way as well. The Helin Mountain Range is vast. If the two of us search separately, we may find it sooner."

Li Xuanxuan merely nodded. Li Xijun looked at Kongheng again and spoke softly:

"Though the Helin Mountain Range's spirit mechanism is weak, with no famous spiritual objects or monsters, there might still be wandering devil cultivators. I ask the mage to hold this ground and protect us."

"Very well!"

Li Xuanxuan, seeing his meticulous manner, nodded and left in one direction. Li Xijun watched him depart, then turned to Kongheng:

"I'm troubling the mage to look after my elder. I shall head to Hengdong County."

Kongheng understood and nodded, reminding him with a few words. Li Xijun rode the wind northward again, passing through the two great peaks of the Helin Mountains, and followed the road to Hengzhu Toaism's Hengdong County.

Now having flown out of Helin, he saw a vast plain. Everywhere he looked stood towers and pavilions, eaves linked with rafters. Hengdong County was a major county, with a population of over a million. Hengzhu Toaism had managed it for many years, making it one of the most prosperous counties in Yue Country.

Li Xijun flew for a while, gazing all around. All he could see were broad, fertile fields, and doubts arose in his heart:

"Hengzhu Toaism… does not set up an Immortal Mountain?"

Just as he pondered, a person ahead flew over, standing on a cloud. He wore white, painted with golden-red cloud patterns, thin lips and big eyes, his browbones long and fine—quite unlike people of the South River.

"I am Bi Chengjuan of Hengzhu Toaism. Greetings, Taoist Fellow… May I ask what sect or school you are visiting from?"

Bi Chengjuan's deep eyes and high nose made his expression hard to read. With a sweep of his gaze over Li Xijun, he had already deduced he was not from the Three Sects and Seven Doors, but spoke with much politeness.

"A humble cultivator from Wangyue Lake… Li Xijun of the Li Family in Qingdu."

Li Xijun replied gently. Bi Chengjuan was slightly surprised, nodded, and said:

"So you are of the Li Clan… No wonder I see the clear Qi swirling in your gaze, truly outstanding. I'd thought you were from Wu Country's Toaist Lineage."

Li Xijun spoke modestly, and Bi Chengjuan responded courteously:

"May I ask, Taoist Fellow, coming from afar… what is your purpose?"

Li Xijun replied:

"I have heard Hengzhu Immortal Path has the 'Ningqing Demonic Cleansing Technique', which clears away inner demons and resolves heart knots. One of my elders is afflicted by heart demons; I have come to seek healing."

Bi Chengjuan was clearly well accustomed to such matters and did not seem surprised. He said:

"We are all Taoist Fellows; to help is no trouble… though there is one thing I must explain first."

He paused, very cautious, and said:

"Our immortal path's 'Ningqing Demonic Cleansing Technique' is not some superior Immortal Law—only Fifth Grade. Some heart demons are beyond its power. If you wish to try, Taoist Fellow, you must be prepared!"