Family Cultivation: I Become a Mirror

"The Mage need not blame himself."

Kongheng was of a gentle and fragile disposition; merely at the mention by Li Yuanjiao, he had already felt inexplicably ashamed. Li Yuanjiao nodded thoughtfully, musing:

'At least it's not Kongheng's fault; there is still some room for maneuver.'

They traveled swiftly on the wind and only breathed a sigh of relief when they arrived at the vicinity of Wangyue Lake. Qingdu Mountain was peaceful, the Great Formation showed no damage, and everything was tranquil and auspicious under the sunset's glow.

Li Yuanjiao relaxed, and from afar, a young man in black flew towards them. It was Li Wushao, who had followed the spirit nature connection between them and arrived early. He landed with a salute, respectfully saying:

"Wushao pays respect to Master."

Li Yuanjiao nodded slightly. Kongheng announced his presence and returned to the continent, while Li Xizhi and Li Xuanxuan also descended to the mountain.

Li Qinghong, clad in Jade Armor, rode out on a thunderbolt with a spear in hand. When the siblings met, they had a lot to say but hesitated. They took turns recounting the events, and Li Yuanjiao wondered:

"Zhang Yun? Zhang Huaide?"

Zhang Huaide, surnamed Zhang, seemed to have quite a background and capabilities; the Li Family had long suspected that he had switched from an Immortal Sect to the Demonic Path. Now with Zhang Yun personally protecting him, it was certain.

"Indeed, this shows that not only did Jin Yu Sect release the cultivation technique, but Zifu was paying attention. They even sent a direct member of the lineage to lead personally. The calamity of demons on Jin Yu's own territory must also be orchestrated."

Li Qinghong made a deduction, and Li Xuanxuan added:

"It's only natural. Jin Yu has been accumulating treasures in their domain for so many years—enough to make anyone envious… Moreover, the Noble Families that have grown too powerful have already started to monopolize Jin Yu's cultivation techniques and secret techniques. They've been eager to get rid of the competition for a long time."

"Apart from Jin Yu and Green Pond, several of the other seven doors have also dispatched disciples with no hope of advancement to turn to practicing the Demonic Path, such as Xiao, Ziyun… These Sects may not be leading the situation, but they can still scoop up some benefits."

Li Qinghong said:

"Since Zhang Yun left, those Devil Cultivators became even more audacious, capturing Cultivators everywhere in the wilderness, and not just our Family... I heard that even the Shen Family of the Xiuyue Immortal Clan, which borders the north side of the wilderness, sent people. It seems they were repelled by Zhang Yun."

Li Xuanxuan shook his head and replied:

"We can't control them; just don't provoke them, that's all."

Li Qinghong nodded slightly and with a flip of her hand, took out a Jade Box, smiling:

"Take a look!"

Li Yuanjiao took it, scanned it with his Spiritual Sense, and saw the fruit within was crimson and pulsing like a heart, nestled against grey-black leaves. He immediately showed delight:

"Blood Tum Fruit… Lu Ken does work efficiently! Xizhi is just at Libu Prefecture; have him take it to the Foundation Establishment Pill Master."

Li Yuanjiao put away the treasure, and having settled the matters at hand, he was reminded of the wound on his wrist by Li Xijun's urging and hesitant advice. Li Qinghong, hearing about it, insisted even more that he retreat to his Cave Mansion to heal.

Li Yuanjiao agreed amicably but instead headed towards Li Yuanping's courtyard, intending to keep him company. He planned to take medicine for his wound and delay it for a year or two. Unexpectedly, Li Yuanping refused to see him after hearing about his injury.

In the end, Li Yuanjiao couldn't win against the persistence of his siblings and reluctantly went into seclusion for healing.

Li Xijun landed at the front of the mountain, where a girl about eight or nine years old stood on a rock. She was dressed in white, with a smile in her squinting eyes, and softly said:

"Brother!"

"Xiang'er."

Li Xijun smiled in response. Li Yuexiang bore a closer resemblance to Xiao Guiluan, with willow brows and phoenix eyes, dignified and elegant. Though she was still young, she already had the appearance of being in her teens.

Li Yuexiang twisted her hands and said:

"Father only saw me briefly before he went into seclusion again..."

Li Yuexiang was the only girl among her generation in the Li family, doted on immensely by her several brothers. Yet, thanks to Xiao Guiluan's upbringing, she wasn't spoiled but instead felt somewhat uneasy due to the rare sight of her father.

"Alas..."

Li Xijun understood that this situation was inevitable. Many spoiled descendants of Noble Families and Sects were born this way—often when a child is born, the parents are already Foundation Establishment Cultivators. Merely closing up for a short cultivation could mean the child had grown halfway to adulthood; another retreat to study some Taoist Spells, and in the blink of an eye, the child was nearly grown up.

"Actually, Brother Xizhi and Uncle Jiao also rarely meet. The two children were both raised by Lady Xiao..."

Li Xijun just comforted his tearful sister, softly saying:

"You should be more understanding of your father who has to take care of the family..."

Already a Fetal Breathing Cultivator, Li Yuexiang held her brother's hand as he tried to divert her attention, smiling:

"I brought back a young nephew for you. Was Mother happy to see him?"

Li Yuexiang curled her lip, murmuring softly,

"Another who won't see Dad..."

Li Xijun could only manage an awkward smile as he took her hand and led her up the mountain.

...

At the estuary of Salty Lake.

Clad in a golden robe, Situ Mo flew in on the wind, his face gloomy and unsightly. He followed the river, his hands behind his back, surrounded by golden light, remaining silent.

The monsters in the great river below, upon seeing the golden light above, submerged themselves, daring not to move. He frowned deeply, thinking to himself,

'What a pity, missing this opportunity. Now that the members of the Li family are on guard, they will be even harder to deal with... It was a good chance to catch a few during this mission... Who knows how long it will be next time.'

As he pondered, suddenly a yellow light approached rapidly over Salty Lake. It was a muscular monk, bald and with a red complexion, his large eyes staring as he opened his mouth and bellowed,

"Situ Mo! What have you done! An utter mess! Ridiculous!"

Situ Mo's face was stormy as he clenched his teeth, retorting scornfully,

"Still better than you, a coward who dares not show his face! Cultivating the so-called Furious Taoist Lineage, more like a Cowardly Taoist Lineage!"

"Damn it, I am of the Furious Taoist Lineage, not some Stupid Dog Taoist Lineage. I have calculated for three years. The Li family has more hidden tricks than you can imagine. They dare not kill you, but they could summon some Talisman Sword, Dharma Sword to chop me to pieces!"

Situ Mo let out a cold laugh but didn't deny it, as he himself was equipped with plenty of last-resort measures. He mocked,

"It's your own Furious Taoist Lineage that's fractured and in disarray, bashing their own heads in. How many remember the death of Maha? How many seek revenge? Otherwise, it wouldn't be just you, a minor Mage, showing up here."

"What do you know! Preserving the lineage is key. Once we have someone new ascend to Maha's position, will it not be easy to deal with the Li family then?"

Situ Mo paused, thinking there might be some truth to it. Wary, he stared at the monk and demanded,

"With that said, what are you doing causing trouble in the south!"

"Heh heh..."

The monk laughed, his voice fierce as he said,

"Since it was the Li family responsible for killing Maha, perhaps the key to reclaiming Maha's position lies within the Li family, doesn't it? Why not give it a try."

His expression suddenly darkened, returning to one of fierce anger, as he shouted,

"Don't ask about this and that. I only want to know, I clearly told you to simply kill Li Xijun and leave it at that, not to entangle with that earthy monk, just retrieve the body and come back. Why did you set up a Great Formation and plan ambushes, only to botch everything!"

Situ Mo's face turned sinister as he replied,

"What use is killing Li Xijun? The main targets should be Li Yuanjiao and Li Qinghong..."

"Are you mad!"

The monk cursed loudly,

"You don't understand! What Noble Families fear the most is a break in the line of succession. Even if you were wounded but managed to kill Li Xijun strongly, it would be more painful for them than gravely wounding Li Yuanjiao! Even if just crippling Li Xijun, it would sicken the Li family for fifty or sixty years, possibly even risking their downfall!"

Situ Mo held his tongue, sneering inwardly,

'How could I not know that? You, monk, are cunning in calculation. If I simply killed him easily, resolving the karma, you, having calculated no benefit for advancing to Maha, would not stay to assist me! You'd leave, and where would I find such a powerful ally, fearlessly confronting the Li family.'

'If I am to kill, it has to be someone significant!'

The monk berated him furiously, eventually saying rather discontentedly,

"When will you return from this expedition!"

"Maybe ten years..."

Situ Mo seemed somewhat troubled,

"Xuan Yue Sect has dispatched a Foundation Establishment Cultivator to oversee overseas affairs... quite capable... someone called Kong Tingyun, I have to attend to this matter."

His eyes widened, a touch of coldness in his voice,

"Best if I can seize the opportunity to kill her, so I don't have to waste time there... and also to cause some trouble for my cousin, preventing Xuan Yue and Tangjin from reconciling..."