Family Cultivation: I Become a Mirror

"But Qinghong, my dear sister... I've heard of your great name for a long time..."

She chatted enthusiastically for a few words, looking as though she was quite fond of Li Qinghong. The group rode the wind and landed at the Xuan Yue Sect's station, where Kong Tingyun said:

"Would you like to rest and regulate your breath for a while, or should we head as soon as possible to the market city in the far seas to take up our post? Situ Mo is cunning and sinister, I fear if we stay away too long, something may happen..."

Li Yuanjiao and the others were also eager to get there sooner, immediately agreeing, and they all soared up together on the wind. Yet Li Yuanjiao did not want to give up the chance to get some information, so he asked:

"I just heard senior mention the story of Fenkui Island, speaking of Lady North Yao and Xi Yang Dragon Lord with such ease. Do the Golden Core Perfected Lords overseas often show themselves?"

"Not often, but sometimes they do appear..."

Kong Tingyun replied along the way, answering:

"Only overseas can you speak so boldly of these things... Not like that Lu Shui, who hasn't dared show his face for over a century."

Kong Tingyun laughed softly:

"Heh, he's scared to death! The rank of Lu Shui is no ordinary one... plenty of people have their eyes on him..."

Li Yuanjiao nodded thoughtfully, his impression of the Lu Shui Perfected Lord changing greatly. The invincible, terrifying shadow faded a bit; he only said softly:

"The East Sea truly is a world apart."

The group was flying on the wind; Kong Tingyun reminded:

"In the East Sea, there are a few powers you must never provoke. I'm sure Taoist fellows know of them, but I'll say a few more words anyway."

"The first is the Dragon Kind... In the Four Seas, the East Sea's Dragon Kind are the fiercest—a truly supreme power. The Dragon Kind are most protective of their own: so long as it is a True Dragon, you cannot afford to offend even one..."

The group nodded, and Kong Tingyun continued:

"Next are the various demons and monsters—be they Immortals, ghost officials, or some bizarre and uncanny things, not like living beings at all, formed of all sorts of Metal Nature, destiny, and ill omens fused together."

She shook her head and said:

"If you run into them, there's naught to be done. Some even Zifu must retreat thrice, others just make you give a little sneeze."

"Within the sea, the Netherworld folk are the wardens, so there aren't many demons, but overseas—it's different. The East Sea is vast beyond compare, and there's all manner of things hidden away."

She paused, then went on:

"As for the rest of the minor and major factions... the killing never ceases for even a day, and in truth, it's all for the sake of profit alone."

Kong Tingyun waited a moment, then led everyone down into the water. Calculating the hour, she said gently:

"The East Sea is simply too vast. If we only rely on flying, who knows how many years it would take to arrive? It's better to rely on the water veins—not only does it save mana, the speed is much greater."

Li Qinghong glanced around, and sure enough, saw others also waiting nearby, eyeing each other warily, all waiting for something. Kong Tingyun whispered:

"Just a few more breaths, and the water veins in the sea will surge. This sea route will be inundated by sea water. We ride the Water Control spell, and can then travel upon the waters, straight to Zhu Lu Sea, where my family's market city is."

'Zhu Lu Sea.'

Just as she finished speaking, the surrounding seawater began to tremble, rushing eastward; countless bubbles rose, the ground shook, lightning and thunder raged over the sea, a deep and ominous darkness pressing down.

Li Yuanjiao had spent over a year in the East Sea, moving like a fish in water and naturally understanding all this. He said in a low voice:

"My Immortal Foundation is the 'Vast Sea'; let me take charge of controlling the waters."

As he finished, a serpent-dragon appeared at his feet, making a turn through the sea, transforming into a blue-gray ring of light that enveloped everyone, swiftly carrying them eastward amidst the violent water surge.

...

Zhu Lu Sea, Jindou Island.

In Zhu Lu Sea, there are quite a few islands; Jindou Island is a mid-sized island, where Tang Jin Sect has put in great effort to make it solidly fortified.

Situ Mo, draped in golden robes, sat sullen-faced at the head seat. A man below prostrated himself, shrinking back in fear, and said:

"Reporting, my lord... That crab has come to urge us again... He's demanding another thousand men... wants them in three days."

Situ Mo's expression was gloomy; he only said in a low voice:

"I know."

Although Tang Jin Sect is an Immortal Sect, in the East Sea, it still must abide by the East Sea rules, and tributes must be paid. That crab is only in Qi Cultivation, but behind him lurks a Flood Dragon. Displeased as he was, Situ Mo could only grit his teeth and put up with it.

But what troubled him went far beyond this. The sect's records arrayed on his desk upset him equally; on this island, he was the only direct lineage. Secretly retrieving the records, he carefully reread the events of those years.

"In the sixth month, the Yu Clan entered the sect, Wan Huaqian became famed in the commandery for formations... Yu Clan then slaughtered several from the Wan Clan and framed the Ji Clan... The Wan Clan breached Huazhong Mountain, Xiao Clan sent people to warn the Yu Family... Massacre... Encirclement of the commandery..."

During the destruction of the entire Ji Family, the Yu Family and Xiao Family stood behind it. It was also the aftershock of Green Pond and Tang Jin's long-standing rivalry. Reading between the lines, Li Tongya was nothing more than a pawn for Xiao Chuting.

"Xiao Chuting manipulated things back and forth, playing with Wangyue's situation—making the Jiang and Yu families weaken in succession, nearly reducing all the eastern shore clans to vassals, then supporting their own Li Family... What a masterful scheme."

Situ Mo silently nodded. He understood that he was still too weak to oppose the Xiao Clan alone; he made a note in his heart, waiting for the day to return the favor.

'But Xiao Chuting really is a formidable figure. I have to feign ignorance for now, or else I'll be taken by that 'Elder of the Stream' sooner or later.'

As he was brooding, he suddenly realized that Kong Tingyun had given no word for ages. He immediately sensed trouble, thinking inwardly:

'That woman isn't one to behave herself. No news for this long—could she be plotting something?'

So he hurriedly ordered:

"Go, summon the mage Muto!"

As Situ Mo watched the man depart, he felt a shiver of dread. Earlier he had thought to be rid of that woman as soon as possible and return, but after testing her twice and suffering minor setbacks, he had to admit he'd underestimated her:

"Damn it... Within the sect, the idiots are easy to fool; but outside, not a one is simple..."

Situ Mo fumed inwardly. Li Yuanjiao was troublesome enough, but that monk didn't look easy either, not to mention Kong Tingyun. Even Li Xijun was sharp. In Tang Jin Sect, he could trick all his brothers and juniors round and round, but outside, he got nothing but short end—all the more infuriating. He swore:

"No wonder Tang Jin Sect is in decline! The whole sect is a pack of idiots!"

As he cursed, a bald, burly man burst in from outside, all flushed and fierce-faced, shouting:

"Damn it! What now?"

Situ Mo flared up at the sight of him, cursing:

"Stinking monk, all you do is chase women! Have you kept an eye on Kong Tingyun?!"

Muto cast a sidelong glance, pinched out a spell with his fingers, but kept running his mouth, shouting:

"You know nothing! The South's pleasures are best—in great Zhao, so long as you show you're a mage, doesn't matter if she's a princess or commandery princess, she kneels and you can do as you please. The women in the south still know how to cry and try to escape..."

Situ Mo's face turned dark as the bottom of a pot. He suppressed his disgust, but Muto's expression suddenly shifted and he said, a bit sheepishly:

"She's not on the island?"

Situ Mo had half expected this; his expression unchanged. Muto hastily pinched out calculations again, the gold on his face slowly fading, evidently exhausted; after a long minute, he spoke:

"She's not in Zhu Lu Sea!"

Situ Mo's expression turned faintly grim, his mind racing as several names flashed like lightning. Suddenly a revelation struck him, and he said hesitantly:

"Seems Fenkui Island suffered a monster attack—wasn't there a lot of deaths?"

Muto paused, then suddenly understood:

"You mean... Kong Tingyun went to fetch the sect disciples?"

Situ Mo hesitated slightly and nodded. But Muto said:

"Then this is the perfect chance! We can't break through the island's Great Formation, but we can ambush her along the sea route! If you and I both go, the closer we get, the more I can divine!"

At this, Situ Mo soared into the wind with him at once. As they neared the coast, he grew uneasy, thinking:

'That woman knows I have a Buddhist cultivator here—how could she make such a mistake? Sect disciples... Could it be Xuan Yue has no other Foundation Establishment cultivators to spare? Isn't this just too coincidental!'

Suddenly he stiffened, almost shouting:

"Divine Li Yuanjiao's whereabouts!"

Muto was momentarily dazed, puzzled:

"Wasn't the plan to wait ten years to retaliate against the Li Family?"

"I said divine, so divine!"

Situ Mo cursed. Muto scowled and said:

"This old monk isn't even in Yue Country! How do you expect me to divine that, old man... Now we're already approaching the sea route... Why not divine Kong Tingyun?"

Situ Mo could only hold back his temper, staring at the nearing water surge, and said in a low tone:

"Just see if Li Yuanjiao is in the East Sea or not! Divine Li Yuanjiao first!"