Family Cultivation: I Become a Mirror-Chapter 151 - 142: Imminent Disaster

Li Xuanxuan’s blade had just pierced the head of the deer demon, whose body rapidly withered away, and with it, the once dazzling antlers also lost their luster and turned dry and pale.

When the prayer was over and the sacrifice complete, Li Tongya, not wanting others to see the body of the deer demon, quickly waved his sleeve and gathered it into his storage bag.

Li Xuanfeng straightened up, and suddenly the images of two streams of Talisman Qi appeared in his mind. He paused for a brief moment, closed his eyes, and looked at them, his spiritual sense unhesitatingly diving into the one filled with fierce and malevolent energy.

The red glow in Li Xuanfeng’s Shengyang Mansion flared up in an instant, his body staggering back two steps as if drunk, bent over with a flushed face. His cultivation level, having just broken through to the Second Layer of Qi Cultivation, surged unstoppably, and he quickly stepped down from the stone platform.

Once Li Tongya and the others descended from the stone platform, the townspeople immediately stood up, and the noise once again filled the air. Li Tongya looked at the townspeople with a beaming smile and said to Li Xuanfeng,

"I notice something unusual about you; were you affected by the talisman?"

Li Xuanxuan and Li Xuanling, hearing this, also looked over, only to see Li Xuanfeng nodding and saying with a smile,

"Indeed, during the sacrifice, two streams of Talisman Qi suddenly appeared in my mind. One was named ’Force Penetrating a Thousand Pounds,’ and the other ’Chasing Clouds and Pursuing the Moon.’ I chose the former, and have now broken through to the Third Layer of Qi Refinement."

After he finished speaking, he explained the characteristics of this Talisman Qi, wiped his hands, and placed the pitch-black longbow to one side. He picked up a piece of green stone from the ground and, with a flick of his finger, shattered it into dust, scattering it all over.

"Pure physical strength, without using any mana."

Li Tongya praised him and picked up the pitch-black longbow to examine it closely. Then he said,

"Now that you are also at the Third Layer of Qi Cultivation, this bow, which is a Fetal Breathing Level magic artifact that I brought back back in the day, is somewhat inadequate for you. The family has saved up a bit over the years, so in a few months, you should go to the county again, find an Artifact Master, and with your strength, have a longbow custom-made."

Li Xuanfeng, on hearing this, was also full of joy. After mulling it over for a few moments, he awkwardly scratched his head and said in a low voice,

"How can I accept this? Our family has many other uses for spirit stones... Xuanxuan and Ling’er haven’t broken through Qi Cultivation yet, so we should buy them some elixirs or the like. My matter is not urgent; we can wait until Xuanxuan and Ling’er have made their breakthroughs in Qi Cultivation."

Li Xuanling, standing at the side, immediately laughed out loud at these words and replied,

"Big brother Feng, there’s no need for such courtesy among brothers! I’ve just recently broken through to the Fetal Breathing Fourth Layer, and my cultivation level still needs to be refined. What need do I have for elixirs?"

Li Xuanxuan also smiled and said seriously, 𝕗𝚛𝚎𝚎𝐰𝗲𝗯𝗻𝚘𝚟𝚎𝗹.𝕔𝐨𝕞

"I have already made a breakthrough to Yujing; what remains is the slow grind to reach the peak of Fetal Breathing. You needn’t worry about us."

Li Xuanfeng laughed and, seeing the two in such a manner, Li Tongya also felt considerable relief. He patted Li Xuanfeng’s shoulder and said with a laugh,

"It’s good for you to think like this. It’s great that you have grown up together on the mountain as close as real brothers; there should be no barriers between you. Speak your mind directly if you have something to say!"

Seeing Li Xuanfeng nod appreciatively, Li Tongya continued,

"What you two have said is reasonable; elixirs are indeed not urgent. Crafting a magic artifact takes quite some time, so it is better to place an order sooner."

Li Xuanfeng could only nod in agreement. The four of them chatted for a bit and then entered the courtyard on Lijing Peak, proceeding to give their thanks before the Dharma Mirror.

They had just entered the courtyard when Li Xuanfeng’s spiritual sense swept across and noticed three radiant white elixirs on the stone platform. Raising an eyebrow, he exchanged a glance with Li Tongya and hurried into the stone chamber.

"Is this the Talisman Pill mentioned in the ’Sacrificial Method’?"

After paying their respects to the Dharma Mirror, they stood up and carefully picked up the elixirs from the stone chamber. Li Tongya pondered for a moment and then nodded,

"According to the ’Sacrificial Method’ bestowed by the Dharma Mirror," it is said that the Dharma Mirror not only condenses Talisman Qi, but if the incense is sufficient, it can also condense Talisman Pills, which Cultivators may consume only one per major boundary to Breakthrough barriers and advance their cultivation level..."

These three Talisman Pills were crystal clear and shining brightly, engraved with mysterious patterns, smooth and elegant, irresistible to the touch. Li Xuanfeng carefully put them into the Jade Bottle one by one, smiling brightly as he said:

"Now I do have some elixirs to use!"

"Indeed."

Li Tongya nodded, pondering:

"The Talisman Pills have miraculous effects for breaking through barriers, but they should only be consumed once per major boundary. Consuming them now would be wasteful; it’s best to wait until the peak of Qi Cultivation to break through to Foundation Establishment level."

"Xuanxuan and Xuanling can each consume one when they break through Qi Cultivation, but that’s still a way off. Although the remaining one isn’t enough for both you and me, there will be many more opportunities for sacrifices in the future, so there’s no worry about running out."

The two happily secured the elixir, and Li Tongya went off to close himself in at Meichi Peak, while Li Xuanfeng, after getting some Spirit Stones from Li Xuanxuan, rushed off toward Li Xia County.

————

The night shrouded Lijing Town as the streets emptied and the dim yellow light from the windows spilled onto the ground. Lu Wanrong walked along the street and then heard her maid say from behind:

"This Li Family’s sacrifice is really lively. We’ve never had such a festival when we were with the Lu Family."

"It can’t be compared."

Lu Wanrong shook her head, continuing home as she said:

"Li Family’s patriarch is in his prime, and Li Xuanxuan has been managing the Li Family flawlessly. Have you ever seen a Li Family disciple dare to bully others with their status, or torment men and women? The Lu Family patriarch hasn’t managed affairs for decades, and my cousin is fond of pleasure, a luxurious character. With one rising and one declining, the Lu Family can’t compare."

No sooner had she finished talking than she arrived at her courtyard, only to see a man walking back and forth in front of the yard, sweating profusely. On seeing the two, his eyes lit up, and he hurried over. Lu Wanrong looked closely and was surprised to find a relative from her time with the Lu Family. She frowned and asked:

"Cousin, how did you end up here?"

The man from the Lu Family looked panicked, with a downcast expression, and stammered:

"The patriarch! The patriarch has passed away!"

"What?!"

Lu Wanrong felt as though struck by lightning and exclaimed in shock, realizing he was talking about Lu Sisi, then quickly shook her head and asked in a low voice:

"When did this happen?"

"Last night! I heard everything while I was nearby; the patriarch was sighing all night in his chair, lamenting: ’The Lu Family is on the brink of extinction!’ By morning, he had lost all signs of life."

The man from the Lu Family, looking as if he had found his pillar of support, said in a low voice:

"My brother hastily buried the patriarch. Right now, he is secretly feasting on the mountain. The patriarch once told me before his death that as soon as he died, I should come to find you, so I came running here overnight! Wanrong, what should we do?"

Seeing his face smeared with dirt, his clothes worn from the journey as a mortal traversing the dangerous Lidao to the Li Family, Lu Wanrong was quite moved. She was immediately anxious and said repeatedly:

"Wait here while I go inside and write a letter home. If this matter is not handled properly, it could bring about the destruction of our family!"