Family Cultivation: I Become a Mirror

After all, it was a gift from the Yinghua branch of the Wang Clan, meant to settle past karma. But Zhang Yun seized it so soon, the Wang Clan would naturally harbor some resentment. Though Foundation Establishment Spirit Roots are precious, they aren't truly indispensable to Zhang Yun; it's not worth offending the Wang Clan.

He glanced at Li Qinghong, then suddenly asked:

"Is your elder brother also Foundation Establishment?"

Li Qinghong dared not lie about such an obvious matter and merely nodded. Zhang Yun smiled faintly, murmuring:

"Interesting... very interesting... Three generations with five Foundation Establishments in one clan; there must be something unusual."

He pondered a while, then spoke:

"And with Ning Tiaoxiao personally arranging the marriage—surely he discovered something... Hm... the Li Family."

Zhang Yun said:

"Li Qinghong... has your elder brother also cultivated [Vast Sea]?"

"Indeed, he has."

Li Qinghong replied softly. Zhang Yun chuckled, nodded, and said:

"Good, very good indeed."

As soon as he finished speaking, he paid no mind to the Li family members before him, swept up a golden radiance, passed through the Li Family's Great Formation, and, without another word, went northward on his own.

Li Qinghong bowed in farewell, not daring to look up until he had gone off laughing. Only then did she breathe out, her back damp with sweat. Watching as Li Xihong hurriedly rushed into the courtyard, she said in a low voice:

"Seal the information at once; under no circumstances should word of Zhang Yun's visit get out!"

Li Xihong nodded and answered:

"Rest assured, Aunt. The clash just now was too sudden; all anyone knows is that someone used Thunder Dharma. I'll send word immediately that it was Aunt cultivating a spell."

...

Hengdong County.

"Taoist Fellow, you need only accompany me this far... There is no need for such courtesy."

Li Xijun and his companions had flown all the way to the edge of Hengzhu Prefecture. He turned to Bi Chengjuan at his side, cupped his hands, and said softly:

"Farewell for now!"

Bi Chengjuan nodded in response and said:

"Should Taoist Fellow pass through Hengzhu in the future, just mention my name; I will personally welcome you from the sect."

Li Xijun smiled as he departed. At his side, Li Xuanxuan, though still appearing every bit an aged elder, now seemed much more spirited, eyes clearer, and wore a smile.

"This [Ningqing Demonic Cleansing Technique] of Hengzhu is quite remarkable! The knot in my heart has eased greatly; even circulating True Yuan is no longer so stiff."

Li Xijun only smiled and said:

"That's a fine thing; Granduncle must strictly heed the warnings. You're not to take any action these next few years—should a fight break out... it may affect your Immortal Law."

Fearing Li Xuanxuan would disregard him, he hurried to add:

"And, and—if you do get into a fight, dozens of spirit stones might be wasted."

"I understand... Of course I do..."

Li Xuanxuan snorted twice, mumbling some trivial words. The mood was much improved; Kongheng recited scriptures along the way, watching the elder and junior bicker.

They reached the Helin Mountain Range, where the two settled down and split up to seek spiritual objects. For two months, the pair searched the outskirts of Helin Mountain Range—found one or two spiritual objects, but had no great harvest.

Li Xijun met Li Xuanxuan as scheduled. Over the past two months, the old man's demeanor had grown relaxed and free; he held a few plums in his robe and offered them to him.

Li Xijun accepted with a smile, sighing:

"Never thought the spirit mechanism in Helin Mountain would be so poor; it's no wonder so few good spiritual objects have appeared here over the years."

Li Xuanxuan handed a few more plums to Kongheng, who took them with a smile. Only then did Li Xuanxuan say:

"Even demons are scarce in the Helin Mountain Range. Of course it's nothing like Da Li Mountain."

Li Xijun took out the map to look it over, then proposed:

"It's still early; how about we cross the prefecture and head for the mountain ranges of Quanwu and Dongli?"

Li Xuanxuan naturally had no objection. The three settled the itinerary right away, then soared east on the wind, prepared to head northeast to inspect Quanwu Mountain Range first.

"The Quanwu Mountain Range is truly vast."

Kongheng gazed at the distant range looming amidst the clouds, admiring:

"When I traveled south, I crossed its western slopes; now, after circling so far, here we are at the eastern slopes."

Li Xijun seized the chance to ask:

"How does it compare with Luoxia Mountain?"

Kongheng pondered for a moment before answering:

"It's hard to compare. There are mighty mountains in the north as well, most famous for their height, danger, and abundant spirit mechanism—but unlike this range, which stretches on and on for tens of thousands of miles..."

"If it's just spirit mechanism we're comparing, Luoxia Mountain reigns supreme, beyond comparison."

Kongheng, rarely so certain, said with conviction:

"The most abundant spirit mechanism under heaven is surely found at Luoxia Mountain; the other sites—sects and gates' Cave Heavens and Blessed Lands—come after. As for the rest, they're farther down the list."

"This Luoxia Mountain... What is its Taoist Lineage?"

Li Xijun asked out of curiosity. Kongheng grew pensive, praised:

"Luoxia derives its name from a certain Perfected Lord of the mountain, who attained the Way through rosy clouds. It's said that all the rosy clouds in the world heed his command... At the turning of sun and moon, the very first ray of rosy light emerges from Luoxia Mountain."

"Only when that ray descends the mountain do other rosy clouds dare to arise. It's rumored there are seventy-two types of rosy clouds in heaven and earth, of which forty-eight were wrought by the Perfected Lord's Divine Skills."

Li Xijun asked:

"Since Luoxia Mountain is the foremost Taoist Lineage of the north... Surely there is more than one Perfected Lord?"

Kongheng quietly replied:

"How many Perfected Lords are there at Luoxia Mountain? How many within the seas, how many abroad, and how many have left this world? It's ever a matter of speculation; there's no definitive answer."

"Only in the past few centuries have three Perfected Lords appeared and acted—these are true Golden Core Perfected Lords!"

Seeing the Li family's elder and youth listen so attentively, Kongheng added:

"Yet I've heard some rumors: that the Perfected Lord who attained the Way through rosy clouds... has actually already become an Immortal."

"Become an Immortal?!"

Taoist cultivators of South River always addressed one another as 'Fairy' or 'Upper Immortal,' and the Northern Buddhist Practitioners spoke of 'enlightenment' and 'attaining the Way,' but Li Xijun knew the meaning of 'becoming Immortal' in Kongheng's mouth was far deeper. He asked in a low voice:

"Is it... a Dao Embryo?"

"Correct."

Kongheng nodded, a trace of envy shimmering on his face. He said softly:

"It's said he had long since achieved the Immortal Body and Dao Embryo—indestructible and everlasting, sharing lifespan with heaven and earth, radiant with the sun and moon... Yet for some reason, he remains atop Luoxia Mountain."

"A true Great Divine Ability Practitioner."

Li Xijun praised him, but Kongheng gently shook his head and said softly:

"Doesn't the south also have a bona fide Immortal?"

"Um..."

Seeing both Li Xijun and his companion puzzled, Kongheng asked in surprise:

"It's said whenever a Zifu in the south breaks through Golden Core, that person sends someone to collect the Metal Nature. Is this only rumor?!"

"So that's what you meant!"

Li Xijun had a flash of realization and answered:

"That does happen! It does! So the agent belongs to an Immortal!"

"Then that's settled!"

Kongheng quickly asked:

"Do you know this Immortal's cultivation level? By what Dao did they attain immortality? Where is their Immortal Mansion?"

Faced with this barrage of questions from the monk, Li Xijun could only shake his head with a wry smile, replying softly:

"To be honest, South River has long been under an information blockade by the Three Sects. They even destroyed books en masse, obscuring much knowledge about achieving Foundation Establishment and Zifu."

"My family's background is shallow; even for news from South River itself, we have to ask overseas cultivators, let alone anything about Immortals..."

Kongheng nodded thoughtfully and apologized.

Day and night, the group hurried on and, after half a month or so, arrived at the farther side of Quanwu Mountain Range. To the north was Libu Prefecture, eastward Dongli Mountain—areas with few demons and much safer.

They split up, seeking water veins and searching for spiritual objects.

...

Li Xizhi left the sect and swiftly flew north, clumsily lulling Huai'er in his arms to sleep along the way, and landed at a small town.

Chenghuai was well-behaved, but after lying in his arms for two days, he became restless, fidgeting to go out and explore. Li Xizhi fed him some fruit, but he wasn't interested.

"Let's rest awhile... Libu Prefecture is still a long journey away."

Li Xizhi landed as night deepened; the town below burned with lamps and flames. As he stopped to take a look, he discovered the townsfolk were bearing torches, gathered in a circle.