Family Cultivation: I Become a Mirror

Li Xizhi casually handled the various figures in the marketplace, finding time to step into the courtyard, where the elder Li Xuanxuan was holding a talisman brush, dipping it in some spiritual ink, and meticulously tracing patterns.

After more than seventy years of drawing talismans, the old man could draw them with his eyes closed, without missing a single thread. His gray eyebrows raised as he looked towards Li Xizhi, his hand steadily moving to continue his work, he said with a laugh:

"Xizhi has arrived."

Li Xizhi respectfully replied, and with a motion of Li Xuanxuan's hand, a talisman emerged, one for the Qi Cultivating Late Stage—the "Return to Origin Shield", crystal white and gleaming. Li Xuanxuan looked at his curiously, saying with a smile:

"It's just commonplace merchandise, incomparable to the talismans from within your sect."

Li Xizhi took a glance and said softly:

"Indeed, it is much inferior. Great-grandfather's proficiency in the art of talismans is already very high, it's just that the lack of superior inheritance has led to such talismans being wasted."

"The art of talismans has a low barrier to entry, and there are many wasted Loose Cultivators like myself in Yue Country."

Li Xuanxuan chuckled and waved his hand, taking out the "Firmament Edge" from his storage bag and handed the glittering magic artifact to him, instructing:

"This 'Firmament Edge' bears the name of Situ Mo and the mark of Tang Jin Sect, we dare not claim it for our use. We hope to find someone in the marketplace to reforge it for us, to repair and alter it so that it may be of some use."

He twirled his beard and said in a deep voice:

"I went out for a look, but who could have expected that the few refiner masters who could repair and alter artifacts in the marketplace would all be so afraid of offending Tang Jin Sect that they turned me away? The only one willing to take on the job asked for an exorbitant price! Look at this... Tch!"

Li Xizhi understood and took the artifact, saying with a smile:

"Leave it to your grandson. Although I cannot act recklessly or fish for personal gain in the marketplace, utilizing my official authority and influence to open some doors of convenience is indeed very simple for me. While it is a difficult task for the family to handle, it is rather straightforward for me."

Li Xuanxuan nodded repeatedly, expressing his sentiment:

"In the past years, I argued with your Uncle Father, saying if you could stay at home, you would be the most suitable one to manage the family affairs... It's just a pity you went to the sect. At that time, only you were fit for it, if it had been a few years later..."

Li Xizhi shook his head, and Li Xuanxuan then changed the subject:

"After all, you were the best choice for joining the sect. Ximing is heartless – if he joined the sect with his temperament, it would be too much! Xijun is too sharp, and Xihong is too stubborn. Only you have the ability to engage, tolerate, and show goodwill..."

"I heard you married into the Yang Family - is she thoughtful? Bring her home when you have time for this old man to see..."

Li Xuanxuan, being of advanced age, talked in a rambling manner. Li Xizhi listened with a smile and then said gently:

"Great-grandfather, please wait. I'll go and call someone to recast the magic artifact."

Li Xuanxuan gestured for him to leave, and from the back courtyard came a creaking sound as Li Xijun stepped in, looking much healthier and with a trace of concern, he said:

"Great-uncle... we should find time to return home sooner. We naturally have nothing to fear in this marketplace, but I am worried that if Situ Mo fails to harm us, he might go to Qingdu Mountain. With Aunt on her own there, I fear she may not be his match."

"That's true."

Li Xuanxuan suddenly realized the point, paused with his talisman brush, and answered:

"Once Jiao'er comes out of seclusion, we can all go home together. Let Xizhi send that magic artifact later."

...

Li Xizhi left the courtyard, and two eager elders approached him. He asked in a low voice:

"Who is the best at artifact refining in this marketplace?"

An elder stepped forward, laughing sheepishly:

"Around here, there is a Sword Sect cultivator... skilled in forging magic artifacts, but... he is also a disciple of an Immortal Sect and has been in seclusion for a long time. His temperament is not very friendly; we dare not ask, and fear that it would take a personal visit from you, sir..."

"Wan Yu Sword Sect... No matter, lead me there."

Li Xizhi nodded in understanding, following the two as he soared on a rainbow, with the pair trailing behind him, looking at the rainbow light beneath his feet with both admiration and fear. One elder transmitted with mana:

"This noble is truly fortunate, born into Qingdu's main line and became a disciple of Green Pond, with a master from the Foundation Establishment of the Yuan Family and a father who is an ancestor of the Li Family—in three generations, all Foundation Establishment... Truly a person born above our heads..."

The other elder silently nodded, responding with mana:

"Isn't that the truth... Surely, this noble has a significant background within the sect... not dabbling in the marketplace's profits... Perhaps he simply looks down upon them!"

Li Xizhi couldn't hear their conversation as he stepped into the courtyard, and there he saw a young man sitting on the ground, holding a blueprint and glancing at him with drooping eyelids.

"I am Cheng Jinzhu of Wan Yu Sword Sect, may I know which peak of Green Pond Sect you come from?"

The relationship between Wan Yu Sword Sect and Green Pond Sect was not good, and such a disrespectful slouch and gaze could be considered rude. Seeing his arrogance, Li Xizhi inwardly felt the task was going to be difficult, and he replied quietly:

"Li Xizhi of Qing Sui Peak."

"Qing Sui Peak? Never heard of it...!"

Cheng Jinzhu answered indifferently, then suddenly frowned, straightening up slightly, he asked with confusion:

"Your Li surname... you're not from Chen Feng Peak's Li Family? Qing Sui... Could it be the Sword Immortal's Qing Sui?"

"It is from Wangyue Lake, the Li Family of Qingdu."

As soon as Li Xizhi finished speaking, Cheng Jinzhu jumped to his feet, his expression changing drastically, and his smile turning enthusiastic as he apologized:

"My apologies... Seeing Daoist friend's youthful appearance, I mistook you for a member of the direct lineage of the Demon Sect... It turns out you are a descendant of the Sword Immortal Family! Truly sorry for my disrespect!"

Cheng Jinzhu could call Green Pond Sect the Demon Sect so boldly, but Li Xizhi dared not acknowledge it. He heaved a sigh of relief inwardly and could only modestly bow his head as if he hadn't heard it, saying humbly:

"It's simply the residual grace of my ancestors, not worth mentioning."