Family Cultivation: I Become a Mirror-Chapter 175 - 165: Planning against the Shanyue

Li Yuanxiu stepped onto the bluestone path and ascended the mountain, where the courtyard was silent and empty. Most of the elders had already entered seclusion for cultivation, only Li Xuanling was in the garden holding a teacup, his other hand holding the white jade slip of "River Rapids Step," as he read. Seeing Li Yuanxiu walking in with a face full of joy, he said softly,

"What kind of good news has brought you such delight?"

"Eastern Shanyue was attacked by monsters, Mu Jiaoman has died violently, and his son Shamo Li has defected to our family, now waiting at the foot of the mountain."

Li Yuanxiu succinctly finished speaking, and Li Xuanling hurriedly put down the teacup, retracted the jade slip in his left hand, and nodded with a beaming smile,

"Indeed, that is good news!"

Seeing Li Yuanxiu’s eyes burning with eagerness, yet hesitating to speak, Li Xuanling asked,

"It looks like you’ve got a plan in mind?"

"Exactly,"

Li Yuanxiu clasped his hands, obviously having prepared his thoughts on the way, and expressed his ideas one after another:

"Having Shamo Li in our hands, he must certainly be supported as the lord of Eastern Shanyue. However, in my nephew’s view, there’s much that’s suspicious about this matter of Eastern Shanyue. Although we hold Shamo Li, we shouldn’t underestimate Witch Mountain. We’ll have to wait and gather intelligence first, before discussing the issue of deposing and establishing rule."

"Well spoken,"

Li Xuanling nodded solemnly and asked,

"How is Shamo Li?"

"I have already met him, nephew. He seems to be naive in the ways of power and quite dull, but we must also be wary that it might be a pretense for our family’s benefit. For now, we’ll keep Shamo Li here, indulge him with courtesans, and test him several times. It would be best if he were to leave behind a few descendants in our family."

"Oh?"

Li Xuanling pondered for a few moments, then suddenly thought of something and asked,

"He hasn’t undertaken Qi Cultivation yet, has he?"

"Not at all!"

Li Yuanxiu looked up and locked eyes with Li Xuanling, clearly on the same wavelength. Li Yuanxiu laughed and said,

"Our family still has a copy of ’Purple Thunder Secret Essence Technique.’ When he’s left descendants in our family, we can swear the Xuanjing Spirit Oath, and secretly bestow it with side effects that render him infertile, which may even make him tearfully grateful. Once he returns to Eastern Shanyue, no matter how his ambitions grow with age, ultimately he’ll have no offspring of his own and will still need the descendants taught by the Li Family. This way, everything will be within the grasp of our Li Family."

Li Xuanling nodded in approval, picking up on his ideas, and spoke in a low voice,

"We need not refine an entire dose of Xuanyin Thunder Liquid, merely take a ten percent portion, and the rest mixed as impure Qi can be given to him to cultivate. Even if ’Purple Thunder Secret Essence Technique’ is potent, cultivating with mixed Qi, what can he truly achieve? Once he becomes a cultivator, he’ll only be mediocre, preventing him from becoming too powerful with a Third Grade technique to slip out of our control..."

Li Yuanxiu nodded vigorously, thinking along the same lines as Li Xuanling. With just a few words, the two hatched a plot to completely ensnare Shamo Li. Li Xuanling laughed heartily and said seriously,

"While we’ve planned it this way, I’d still like to discuss it with father, let him be aware. He knows much that’s hidden and could also inquire about Witch Mountain."

Li Yuanxiu then clasped his fist and said in a deep voice,

"In that case, I’ll start on this matter right away. Shamo Li is particularly fond of Yuanjiao, so we’ll need to involve Yuanjiao more in this matter."

"Go ahead with confidence,"

Li Xuanling replied, pondering for a moment, then patted the storage bag on his waist, rummaged through it and took out several jade boxes, instructing,

"Inside these jade boxes are various Spirit Fruits of Fetal Breathing Level. Most are gifts from family exchanges, primarily enhancing Cultivation Level. But since our family lacks so many pill scripts, rash consumption could weaken one’s foundation, adding unnecessary difficulty for future cultivation. Therefore, they’ve been staying with me unused, and now they’re close to dissipating their Spiritual Energy and turning into ordinary fruits."

"Take these Spirit Fruits, and when the timing is right, give them to Shamo Li to quickly raise his Cultivation Level, to prevent his progress from lagging behind our plans. It’s better to feed him to Qi Cultivation Level sooner; it will make executing our plans a bit more convenient."

"Yes!"

Li Yuanxiu took the jade box and held it in his hands, respectfully saying,

"It’s Uncle who has thought everything through. Xiu’er will go and handle it right away."

Li Xuanling watched as he left the courtyard. After running through the entire affair from beginning to end in his mind, he then set out for Meichi Mountain to find Li Tongya.

————

"Mu Jiaoman met a violent death..."

Li Tongya set down the jade slip after hearing Li Xuanling recount the entire cause and effect of the unrest in Shanyue, a trace of doubt flickered in his heart as he muttered,

"Mu Jiaoman had his own methods of contacting the Witch Mountain. Logically, with some sacrifice, he should have been able to enlist the help of the Qi Cultivation disciples from Witch Mountain, so how could he be beaten to death by a demon beast just like that..."

Li Tongya pondered for a few moments, recalling that Xiao Yuansi had mentioned that the Zifu Monk in Shanyue had reached the end of his lifespan. Considering the history of Shanyue’s stronghold in this region, this Zifu Monk from Shanyue was probably the most senior among them all, having lived close to six hundred years and reputedly extending his life several times using secret techniques. 𝒻𝑟ℯℯ𝑤𝑒𝑏𝑛𝘰𝓋𝑒𝓁.𝒸𝑜𝘮

"The one from Witch Mountain is probably working on breaking through to the Golden Core. The Xiao Family is also at a crucial juncture. It is still necessary to send them a letter to inform them, as well as to inquire about the specifics, so we can gauge Witch Mountain’s current control over Shanyue."

"Go, call Donghe to come up."

Li Xuanling nodded and left. Li Tongya picked up a jade slip from the stone table, but after some thought, he put the blank jade slip down and replaced it with a cheaper piece of spiritual cloth. Dipping the brush in ink, he wrote a brief letter, sealed it, and then picked up the jade slip and started reading again.

Chen Donghe had advanced in his Qi Cultivation for over four years now, currently at the early phase of the Second Layer of his cultivation level. He consumed orthodox nature’s spiritual energy during his practice, and the cultivation technique he practiced was an Orthodox Law, his True Yuan being pure and clear. He came forward respectfully and said in a deep voice,

"Donghe pays respects to the senior!"

Li Tongya waved his hand and passed the letter to him, speaking warmly,

"Please take a trip to the county, deliver this letter to Xiao Yuansi of the Xiao Family, and if possible, bring back an immediate reply."

"Yes!"

Chen Donghe bowed and took his leave, soaring on the wind out of the cave mansion. Li Tongya turned back to look at Li Xuanling, who was standing beside him, and said in a soft voice,

"Have you broken through to the Sixth Layer of Fetal Breathing and the Lingchu Wheel?"

"Father, I broke through last month."

Li Tongya surveyed with his spiritual sense and nodded,

"You are twenty-five years old now, this pace is just right; there is no need to rush. Accumulate for a few more years, and by the time you’re thirty, you should be able to break through to Qi Cultivation."

"Your son understands."

Li Xuanling responded and recounted the plans he and Li Yuanxiu had made. Li Tongya listened without showing any emotion and replied,

"Yuanxiu is one who weighs his options carefully. Eastern Shanyue sends a vast amount of food and materials eastward every year, including many spiritual objects. This matter concerns the clothing and food of over a hundred thousand people under the Li Family’s governance, and with it, the amount of incense offered at next year’s ceremony. Do not let any mishap occur. If Witch Mountain is truly unable to attend to their own matters, we can boldly take further control over Eastern Shanyue."

"Your son understands, but, in case that Shanyue person really does achieve the Golden Core..."

Li Xuanling was cautious too. He bowed and posed the question, only to see Li Tongya smile and say,

"In the path of immortal cultivation, it is best to break through as soon as possible when one’s foundation is stable. The only exception is these Zifu Monks approaching the end of their lifespans, who delay their breakthrough until their life force is nearly dissipated, a sign that they lack confidence from the start."

"I have also reviewed many historical records. After the war between immortals and demons, Yue Country was established. Even then, there were those who managed to break through to the Golden Core. Later, the Moonlight Origin Mansion withdrew in seclusion, the Three Sects and Seven Doors emerged, and Yue Country existed in name only. There has not been a single cultivator who has broken through to the Golden Core, let alone a Shanyue cultivator."