Family Cultivation: I Become a Mirror

He was contemplating when a person came up from below and said with a respectful bow,

"Reporting to the lord, the Tang Jin Sect's clan records are here."

Li Xizhi took them and flipped through, indeed finding the person Situ Mo. On the surface, he belonged to the current main vein of the Tang Jin Sect and was likely a surviving orphan of a lineage that had been exterminated.

Originally, the Tang Jin Sect was governed by the eldest son, Situ Li, who had marital ties with the Xuan Yue Sect. After the founding ancestor, Situ Tang, passed away, the second son, Situ Nu, with the support of the Jin Yu Sect, murdered his brother and took over, achieving Zifu.

Afterward, Situ Nu died, and the Tang Jin Sect split into several factions. Eventually allying with the Green Pond Sect, the eldest lineage was restored. Situ Nu's lineage had to be annihilated, leaving only Situ Mo alive, which is the background of this person's life.

"It's quite a mess."

Li Xizhi had generally read through it and clearly saw the traces of conflict between Green Pond and Jin Yu, with the repeated massacres and struggles of the Tang Jin Sect merely being a manifestation of the squabble between the two sects.

"All desperate measures, otherwise they wouldn't have secretly spared Situ Mo."

Li Xizhi was inwardly shocked and asked the person below,

"Where is Situ Mo currently? Has he taken on any mission?"

The person below answered with respect,

"Reporting to the lord, it's said that he has taken a mission to the East Sea and may not return for several years."

"Continue."

Li Xizhi prompted after asking a question, and the person explained,

"According to several cultivators from the Han, Fu, and He families who came to the market, the Kong Clan of Xuan Yue have stationed two Foundation Establishment Cultivators on an overseas market, occupying two islands and blocking the sea route. The Tang Jin Sect's market has lost a great part of its population."

"Originally, the relationship between Xuan Yue and Tang Jin was very good, without much conflict, but in recent years it has deteriorated, leading to this situation. Tang Jin Sect sent Situ Mo there."

Li Xizhi had calculated in his mind, pulled out a small letter, and wrote back home. The old man came to report again, saying a monk requested an audience.

"A monk."

Li Xizhi was very cautious, asked carefully about his appearance to confirm it was Kongheng, held a talisman in his hand, and went out to meet him,

The monk, with white skin and fine eyes, long face and round ears, was indeed Kongheng. He said solemnly,

"I've seen the Taoist fellow. I am entrusted by the nobles to deliver a precious medicine."

As soon as Li Xizhi heard it was a precious medicine, he had an estimation in his mind, but Kongheng didn't take it out, just stared at him and said quietly,

"Please show the jade pendant, Taoist fellow."

'Stubborn indeed.'

Li Xizhi smiled, the two had just met before, but were both very cautious. He showed the jade pendant that symbolized the direct lineage of the Li Family, and only then did Kongheng apologize and hand over the jade box.

Li Xizhi swept it with his spiritual sense, knowing it was undoubtedly the blood changing fruit. He said softly,

"Please ask the mage to stay a while; the sword is about to be forged completely. I must trouble the mage to bring it back."

Kongheng nodded and stepped back. Li Xizhi let out a sigh of relief, feeling relaxed,

'Li Encheng's matter should finally have a conclusion... I'll make a trip to [Xuanyuan Market] and establish a connection with Li Encheng first.'

Since Situ Mo had gone to the East Sea, Li Xizhi was much relieved, entrusting the matter to the two elders, and followed the path to fly to [Xuanyuan Market].

The Xuanyuan Market was located near Dongli Mountain, close to Libu Prefecture. Li Xizhi took the precious medicine, mists rose on his face to conceal his appearance. He landed outside the market where a Fetal Breathing Cultivator came to greet him, asking,

"Senior is...?"

Li Xizhi simply said,

"I am but a loose cultivator from the Mushroom Forest Plain, having traveled afar to this place."

Since Li Xizhi had come secretly, he naturally could not use his Green Pond identity but had to hastily invent one. The Fetal Breathing Cultivator was not surprised; he took out a round magic artifact and said respectfully,

"Please, senior, infuse a strand of true yuan."

The demon calamity had been wreaking havoc for a long time, and all big markets had their defenses, not allowing devil cultivators inside to prevent inside-out attacks that could destroy the markets.

Li Xizhi nodded slowly, infused true yuan, and the artifact immediately emitted white light. The cultivator exclaimed,

"An orthodox cultivator..."

Li Xizhi nodded, disregarding his flattering expression, took the jade token handed over, and stepped into the bustling market. He quickly found the [Enshui Pill Pavilion].

Stepping inside, a servant came to greet him. Li Xizhi waved his hand,

"Call your shopkeeper."

Though he had tucked away his Feather Clothing and masked his features, appearing unidentifiable, his tone was bland and his demeanor distinguished. The Servant dared not neglect him and hurriedly went up to greet him. Before long, a tall and thin man came down, wearing a short coat and smiling as he clasped his hands in greeting:

"I am Li Enxi, and I have the honor of meeting the Taoist Fellow."

Li Enxi was only at the early stages of Foundation Establishment, but he was very courteous to Li Xizhi, who naturally did not dare to show arrogance. He followed Li into the secret chamber and brushed a hand over his face, revealing his true appearance.

Li Enxi nodded in realization, seeming to recognize him, and responded:

"So it's Xizhi, the younger friend. I've been instructed by my elder brother and have been waiting for quite some time."

Li Xizhi took out the Jade Box and said softly:

"A humble gift for our meeting, please accept it with a smile."

Li Enxi took it, and with a sweep of his Spiritual Sense, he immediately understood what was inside. He spoke softly:

"The Li of the gift… could it be Weili?"

Li Xizhi nodded in confirmation, and Li Enxi immediately beamed with joy, whispering:

"Indeed, a member of our main family. My brothers and I have long guessed that only the surviving lineage of Weili could produce such geniuses."

His eyes gleamed with eagerness, and he politely said:

"If we consider our generational relations, we brothers are at least of the same generation as Old Ancestor Mutian… but never mind that, I won't involve you in such matters to avoid making you uncomfortable."

Li Xizhi nodded humbly. They were relatives separated by a thousand years; there could be no real connection, but this was merely a tactic to bridge the distance.

Ultimately, it was Li Encheng who needed a reliable Noble Family, and the Li Family also needed a Foundation Establishment Peak old elixir Cultivator. He understood this very well and was outwardly courteous with him.

Li Enxi spoke in a low voice:

"My elder brother's lifespan is not much longer. Now, the only option is to break through to Zifu. In the future, we will need more support from our main family."

Seeing him lay out the conditions, Li Xizhi politely nodded and said warmly:

"Of course, but our family's influence is minimal, and we may not be of much help… for some matters, we'll still need the attention of our two elders."

"Quite so."

The two exchanged a glance, having reached a tacit agreement. Li Xizhi said:

"By then, Encheng, the elder of the Sect, will need your support…"

"Hmm."

Li Encheng paused for a moment, then took out an Elixir from his chest, smiling:

"Take a look."

Li Xizhi scanned it with his Spiritual Sense, and seeing that the Elixir was snow-white and translucent, he was indeed pleased to find it was a Sui Origin Pill. He pondered whether Li Encheng had refined it secretly, thus not infusing it with blood energy, or if he had specifically learned about the preferences of the Li Family and prepared it adequately.

He thanked him repeatedly, and Li Enxi chuckled twice before his expression suddenly changed, and he said fiercely:

"The matter of revenge... is, after all, inevitable. For a full thousand years... these Toaist Lineages still refuse to let our families be…"

These words seemed to carry genuine sentiment, and Li Xizhi was taken aback for a moment before hearing Li Enxi say:

"My eldest brother was also slain by a monk! This grudge is shared by Weili. As long as one breath remains in our Li Clan, we dare not forget the blood feud of national slaughter. Hearing about the Maha incident, my elder brother guessed it involved the Weili lineage, and has been waiting to meet you, the younger friend…"

Only then did Li Xizhi realize there was this additional reason for the smooth progress of their dealings. He nodded earnestly, mindful of the unresolved grudge between Qingdu Li Family and Maha. Suddenly inspired, he whispered:

"Speaking of this matter, recently our whereabouts have been exposed and we were ambushed by our enemies, which also involved the shadow of Zhao Shi."

Li Enxi frowned and hesitantly said:

"If you find yourself in trouble with monks, you may seek a favor from me… I see you are a clever child, and you understand the subtleties. I need not say more…"

Li Xizhi naturally nodded. His relationship with Li Enxi was still superficial, and he dared not mention the matter with Situ Mo, fearing it might scare Li Enxi away. He simply answered:

"Should I detect any traces of Buddhist Practitioners, I will undoubtedly inform the elder."

After talking for a while and setting the rules for future meetings, Li Xizhi then turned and left, riding the wind away, his hand caressing the hilt of his sword as he pondered:

"Green Pond… overseas… Wangyue…"

"Father has already prepared to make a move overseas. With the family's growing influence and the possibility of my seventh and eighth brothers reaching Foundation Establishment, we're just waiting for an opportunity…"

After spending twenty years laying low and acting subservient in Green Pond, for the first time, he displayed a posture filled with ambition, no longer concealing his naked desires:

"With the support of Li Encheng, Yuan Family, Xiao Family, and Ning Family, uniting Wangyue Lake will have a just basis…"

"Yu Muxian… Yu Muxian! Just remove this person, and within a moment's time, we could devour Wangyue Lake entirely."