Family Cultivation: I Become a Mirror

Hui Yao's expression was a tapestry of colors, no longer the fierce demeanor of before, as he wilted away, forcing out a strained chuckle:

"Fair enough, fair enough, these people can be allocated to other islands, and we can consider it making a new friend!"

"Good."

Li Yuanjiao squinted his eyes in silence, and Hui Yao, reluctantly and unwillingly, pledged his spirit nature, swearing the Xuanjing Spirit Oath. Only then did he see Li Yuanjiao's hand move away from the sword.

Li Yuanjiao gestured to his younger sister, and Li Qinghong took out a storage bag and stuffed it into the demon's hand. Hui Yao, familiar with the process, accepted it with a more sincere expression. After negotiating a few words, he hurriedly hugged the jade box and took his leave.

He flew out of the formation, dazed, and it took a while before he recovered from the shock of being completely controlled in an instant. He had made the oath in a daze, feeling a cold sweat break out over his entire body, as if his soul had left him.

Upon opening the storage bag, he found it contained quite a few spiritual ores, and the jade box felt ice-cold to the touch. He simply couldn't help but feel tempted. Hui Yao silently reverted to his original form and plunged deep into the sea.

After watching Zong Yan sent out of the formation, referring to them as grandfathers with each breath, Li Qinghong scoffed:

"Indeed, they're all creatures who fear might but do not hold gratitude. Tempt them with benefits, and their appetites swell; raise a fist, and they immediately shut up."

Li Yuanjiao nodded:

"The benefits that should be given, must still be given. These lackeys can't accomplish anything significant, but ruining our plans is very simple for them, lest they draw our enemies here."

After the two had spoken, Zong Yan came rushing back on the wind, landing heavily on the ground before bowing deeply and saying respectfully:

"Your subordinate greets the two great ones! Sect Spring Island only looks to the lead of the two great ones."

Li Yuanjiao nodded slightly, watching Zong Yan's behavior. He was doing better than most, speaking softly:

"Have you always been so servile, begging and pleading like this?"

"Humph!"

Zong Yan's face remained respectful as he bowed and said solemnly:

"Of course. I'm merely losing some face, calling a few 'grandfathers.' If it pleases them, it can mean a few less people die on the island."

Li Yuanjiao was silent, while Li Qinghong gave him a quiet look, speaking softly:

"Everyone says the East Sea is dim and without luster, yet you are much brighter than the so-called righteous paths within my ocean."

Zong Yan hastily denied any praise, and Li Yuanjiao waved his hand, taking out several bags of Spirit Rice from the storage bag and spreading them before the hall with a rustle, along with a few elixirs, all of which he handed over to Zong Yan.

"Take these provisions for now. Distribute the Spirit Rice to the cultivators on the island, and from now on, there is no need to consume blood vitality anymore."

Zong Yan bowed deeply, choking up:

"Yes!"

To the Li Family, these Spirit Rice were but a drop in the bucket, but in these remote waters where Spirit Rice could not be grown, they were precious provisions to people like Zong Yan.

He took his leave with the items, reverently examining a few of the elixirs and feeling their fragrance fill his nostrils, his eyes welling with tears. He hurriedly dragged out the boy from the side hall, vigorously shaking his arm as he choked up:

"Good boy, go home."

The boy, confused, walked a few steps, while Zong Yan burst into laughter, scooping him up and flying swiftly toward the distant town.

Inside the hall, as Li Yuanjiao and his sister waited for him to leave, they exchanged smiles, and Li Qinghong said:

"This is the remote sea after all, unaware of the affluence within the mainland… Ten Fetal Breathing spiritual objects? What kind of demand is that? The tribute we pay to the Green Pond Sect during Fetal Breathing alone exceeds that number!"

"Hmm."

Li Yuanjiao shook his head, contemplating:

"This spiritual object from the interior seas may be recognized, so it would be better to exchange it for an overseas spiritual object in the market before paying it as tribute, to avoid arousing that monster's suspicions."

"As for the 'Wanling Flower'..."

He pondered:

"I've already inquired about this. A branch of the Han Family sells it overseas; there are also several places in the north that produce it, and one or two places in the sea have some circulation. If we offer a flower every five years and involve the Han Family, there shouldn't be much of a problem..."

Li Yuanjiao couldn't immediately come up with anything that would significantly pique the interest of this creature. Nonetheless, having the monster swear an oath with its spirit nature and accepting a bribe from him to ensure it would no longer presumptuously leverage Jiao Palace's power was, all things considered, worthwhile.

"Now that this matter is finished, I shall return home to stand guard."

Li Qinghong asked a question and glanced at her sister; Li Yuanjiao said:

"Don't worry about the trouble. I'll escort you to Salty Lake along with Kongheng. It will be a round trip; I'm in closed-door cultivation aiming for a breakthrough to the middle stage of Foundation Establishment."

"Good!"

...

Qingdu Mountain.

The light blue Great Formation atop Qingdu Mountain shone with light as usual. Li Chengliao took a few steps on the water surface, traversing the lake to land in the town.

Chen Mufeng from Jade Courtyard Guards had been waiting for a while. With Li Xihong succeeding as the Family Head, Chen Mufeng had received the long-coveted power and provisions. Now, with a cultivation level at the Fourth Layer of Qi Cultivation, he was quite impressive.

As the illustrious eldest son and future reliance of his lineage, Li Chengliao's rare visit to Qingdu warranted that Chen Mufeng, amidst his busy schedule, still took the time to come and greet him with a smile. Li Chengliao returned the gesture modestly and spoke softly:

"Thousand Household."

"Greetings to the young master."

Li Chengliao, now at the Fourth Layer of Fetal Breathing, shouldn't have been leaving the mountain yet. However, his father Li Xihong had chosen a fiancée for him, so a visit was in order.

His father Li Xihong, as the Family Head, made his status as the eldest son highly prestigious. Many with the surname Xu had their eyes on him, yet Li Xihong had chosen a girl from the Liu Family.

The Liu Family's fortunes had waned over time. Fortunately, they had a girl with good talent named Liu Lingzhen, who broke through to the Third Layer of Fetal Breathing at merely fifteen years old. She was considered a prodigy in the town.

After all, the Liu Clan had fallen into decline and lacked resources for cultivation. For her to stand shoulder to shoulder with those of noble birth on her own efforts was truly remarkable. Moreover, with no substantial backing, Li Xihong was overjoyed. After consulting with the Liu Family, he arranged the marriage with Li Chengliao.

The matter had hence been settled. Li Chengliao had seen the girl's portrait; she was indeed stunningly beautiful and talented, to which he naturally had no objections. Still, he had to meet her in person to ascertain whether she was a clever individual or merely an ornamental vase.

Now following Chen Mufeng into the Hall, he turned a few corners and entered a side hall. Two cups of tea were already placed on the tea table, yet no one was to be seen.

"Hm?"

Li Chengliao frowned slightly, surprised. Chen Mufeng appeared even more embarrassed and flustered, quickly apologizing:

"I'll go check... Perhaps there has been a problem."

"No trouble at all, Thousand Household, please."

Li Chengliao responded magnanimously. As Chen Mufeng was about to leave with the wind, a Jade Courtyard Guard rushed in hurriedly, kneeling on one knee and saying in a muffled voice:

"Reporting to the lord..."

His voice was kept very low. Since Li Chengliao's Spiritual Sense had yet to develop, he could only vaguely catch a few words:

"Ruined... the Xu Family... ultimately refused to come... the message has already been locked down..."

Li Chengliao's brow furrowed. He rotated the teacup on the table as he watched Chen Mufeng's back only to see the middle-aged man clenching his fists tightly, seething with rage but forced to lower his voice:

"Gather all the Courtyard Guards for me!"