Family Cultivation: I Become a Mirror

Cheng Jinzhu's attitude had changed dramatically as he pulled him over with a hearty voice,

"What do you mean it's not worth mentioning! Back in the day when the Moon Que Sword Intent surfaced, our sect's 'Wan Yu Sword Book' was also affected. It recorded that the sword's name was 'Green Ruler,' and its sword intent was 'Moon Que,' elusive and ever-changing, clearly the path of righteousness!"

"We don't like to use the term 'Immortal Peak' from the Demon Sects, but when talking about Sword Immortals, we always evoke the name of the sword."

His expression turned sorrowful,

"It's just a pity that there was trouble in the Southern Border! Truly regrettable indeed."

Cheng Jinzhu took Li Xizhi's hand and said softly,

"Your family was born in Green Pond, otherwise our Sword Sect should have been the closest to your family. These years, we've been at war everywhere, barely managing to protect ourselves, otherwise we'd certainly have accepted your family's youths into our sect to pursue cultivation..."

He continued in a low voice,

"About the matter of Furious Maha, even though our elders never interfere with the dirty affairs of Buddhist Practitioners, they made an exception to secretly lend a hand in The Great Void, achieving some unexpected results, a pity it ultimately didn't succeed..."

Cheng Jinzhu seemed to have a belly full of grievances as he poured them out. Li Xizhi listened attentively and felt a bit touched. Only then did Cheng Jinzhu realize, and with a laugh said,

"Come now, Taoist Fellow, your family's knowledge is deep and abundant, let's quickly cross swords!"

Li Xizhi understood that he was worried about being deceived under the pretense of being a member of the Li family. He placed his right hand on the sword hilt, charging up, and said openly,

"Alright, I will perform only one sword strike."

'After all, I only know this one strike from the "Moon Que Sword Manual"...'

Li Xizhi muttered to himself inwardly, and Cheng Jinzhu in front of him immediately became serious, drawing his sword, the Sword Qi bright and flowing ceaselessly, readying for battle.

The swordsmanship of Wan Yu has been passed down for a long time. As Cheng Jinzhu wielded his sword, observing Li Xizhi's movements, the sword at his waist sprang to life, conjuring a huge sword arc that came sweeping at him.

"Clang..."

With a gather and flick of his sword, the sword arc in front of him vanished into thin air. Cheng Jinzhu stepped back several paces, contemplative, while Li Xizhi felt a void in his heart:

"Such a swift sword, although he is at the Qi Cultivating Late Stage, the way he easily diffused our family's sword technique shows his strength."

Cheng Jinzhu stroked his chin, murmuring,

"The noble's sword technique has an odd way about it, quite interesting indeed."

His curiosity piqued, he considered asking Li Xizhi for a few more strikes, but Li Xizhi was reluctant to prolong, and simply inquired,

"I've acquired a Magic Artifact from Tang Jin Sect, would Taoist Fellow kindly reforge it for me, to be used by my family?"

"Tang Jin Sect, huh."

Cheng Jinzhu responded, quite casually saying,

"Of course, there's no issue. Is it a Foundation Establishment Magical Instrument?"

Li Xizhi handed over 'Ding Lin Feng,' and Cheng Jinzhu took it, admiring it,

"Ingenious, a fine treasure."

He looked like an expert, merely asking,

"Do you want to forge a sword? What kind of True Yuan will be used to control it?"

Li Xizhi replied,

"Something along the lines of 'Pine Wind and Frost Snow.'

Cheng Jinzhu took a moment to appraise it and nodded, answering,

"If you have any cold jade or cold stone, bring them all to me. I'll reforge it for you, in about... around two to three years! The material of this golden glow is exceptional; to form its current shape from such material is underutilization. To forge it into a sword is effortlessly of Foundation Establishment level."

Li Xizhi was overjoyed and expressed his thanks, hastily asking,

"May I ask how many Spirit Stones?"

Cheng Jinzhu casually stroked the 'Ding Lin Feng' in his hand, saying nonchalantly,

"Give what you think is right; I won't take advantage of you. There's just one condition—after this Magic Artifact is forged, I must be the one to name it."

Li Xizhi didn't care about that detail and readily agreed. After a few more words, the two parted ways.

Only when he looked back and landed in the courtyard did he see that his family was all set to leave. Having only seen his family for half a month, Li Xizhi felt reluctant to part and hurried forward to speak to Li Yuanjiao,

"Father, how is your wound? Why the urgency to leave?"

Li Yuanjiao said softly,

"The injury has stabilized. Injuries to muscles and bones can't be healed in a day or two; it still requires several years of secluded cultivation to recover."

Brushing his black clothes, he said solemnly,

"The real issue is, I have a few matters to discuss with you."

Li Xizhi responded, to which Li Yuanjiao said:

"Fight a match with your younger brother."

"Ah?"

Li Xizhi glanced at Li Xijun who was holding a sword in front of him, slightly stunned before he quickly realized, and as expected, Li Yuanjiao said:

"Let the two of us see, how much my family's direct lineage differs from the disciples of the Green Pond Sect!"

Li Xizhi landed somewhat awkwardly, facing Li Xijun dressed in white, who had been at the Sixth Layer of Qi Cultivation for quite some time, while Li Xizhi had just broken through and was dressed in brocade.

After pondering for two breaths, he put away the feather clothing he was wearing and then nodded at his younger brother.

"Older brother, please forgive my offense!"

Li Xijun stepped into the void, activating the "River Rapids Step", and strode forward, his hand on the hilt of his sword, with a solemn expression. A wisp of white Qi moved in his eyes, flying towards the side of Li Xizhi.

Li Xizhi held his sword sheath, standing on nothing, with colorful light misty around his feet, and with a calm demeanor, he sidestepped to a distance several zhang away, causing Li Xijun to momentarily stiffen and think to himself:

'His movement technique is far too superior, it's not possible to consider closing the distance anymore...'

Without hesitation, he drew his sword, creating a vast white sword arc. Li Xizhi didn't take advantage of him but also drew his sword to meet it with the Moon Que Sword Arc.

Li Xijun's sword was quite ordinary, while Li Xizhi's sword was enchantingly illuminated by spell light, obviously no mundane object. They clashed with a thunderous noise.

"Boom..."

The two met in mid-air, kicking up dust and debris. Li Xizhi waved a sleeve to disperse a strand of Sword Qi that flew at him, showing a hint of surprise for the first time as he nodded and said:

"Good!"

Li Xizhi was older than him, spent more time practicing swordsmanship, and had a natural talent for the Sword Dao that was also superior. However, having practiced many spells at the sect, he naturally spent far less time on the Sword Dao than Li Xijun. Although he had the advantage of a magical artifact, he was still a notch below.

Li Xijun pressed his advantage, trying to get closer and strike with Sword Qi, but Li Xizhi just chuckled, his hands forming a spell, and a colorful light flowed forth.

[Floating Light Picking Technique]

This hazy, fluctuating colorful light moved as fast as lightning. Li Xijun only felt his sword being lifted from his hand, now in the grasp of Li Xizhi.

"What spell is this!"

Li Yuanjiao, who was quietly observing, was startled as he saw Li Xizhi with a "swoosh" take the treasured sword from Li Xijun's hand, his expression changing as he was filled with shock.

'Indeed, there is a way to counter artifact techniques!'

Loose Cultivators and Clan Cultivators without knowledge of spells could only compete with the Immortal Sects through swords, spears, and other such skills, which have low barriers to entry and high potential. Li Yuanjiao had always suspected the Green Pond Sect had targeted spells for such situations, and his heart suddenly skipped a beat:

"With such methods, where's the chance of winning if one's sword can be taken away by spells!"

Li Xijun was caught off guard, but fortunately, he was quick to respond and quickly brought his fingers together to release [Tujun Kuiguang], ejecting a flash of white light that shot towards Li Xizhi.

"Nice spell."

Li Xizhi complimented him and in turn formed a spell with his hands, his middle and ring fingers bending into his palm, with the rest standing tall, forming a tripod shape as he declared:

"Enter, my, Heart, Cauldron."

No sooner had he spoken than the Kuiguang condensed into a white line, dynamically circling before falling into his palm. Li Xizhi gave it a twist, deflecting it aside, and the white Qi shattered the green stones on the ground.

Up to this point in the match, Li Xijun could only sigh in resignation. Li Yuanjiao and Li Xuanxuan exchanged glances, both shocked:

'Xizhi is still not a member of the Green Pond's direct lineage, and just by mastering the "Morning Glow Dew Technique", which is a complete and strong spell from the Green Pond... he is already so powerful! If it were a member of the Chi Family...'

Li Xizhi gave a salute to his brother and, seeing the silent expressions of the elders, said quietly:

"Xizhi is not weak within the sect either..."

Li Yuanjiao sighed and asked:

"How many spells can a typical child of the Green Pond cultivate?"

Li Xizhi replied respectfully:

"Three or four. If it's more, it might delay Foundation Establishment."

Li Xizhi looked at his father, hesitated for a moment, and answered:

"Sect disciples often have fifty to sixty at the Foundation Establishment, not due to lack of talent, but because they delay for the sake of auxiliary spell cultivation and waiting for the opportunity to break through. There are some spells that are more difficult to cultivate after Foundation Establishment if not practiced during Qi Cultivation."

"Why is that?"

Li Yuanjiao frowned slightly, and his eldest son replied:

"Once a cultivator forms the Immortal Foundation, there will be many natural wonders. If the spells they want to learn are not harmonious with it, it becomes difficult to advance..."

"On the other hand, if a cultivator learns spells before Foundation Establishment, then after the breakthrough, the spells will be influenced by the Immortal Foundation, and they may develop even more wondrous variations!"

"Therefore, sect disciples try to delay as much as possible. Often, some people grow older and end up creating many tragedies instead."