Family Cultivation: I Become a Mirror-Chapter 211 - 196: The Two Depart

Xiao Chuchou's words were gentle, but they caused Li Tongya's heart to jolt, his mind whirling rapidly. Gazing at the elder's smiling face, he said with respect,

"Our two families have been in contact for many years, and Tongya is somewhat aware of the noble family's situation. Elder Chi Jing has shown Tongya great favor, and for that, I am deeply grateful."

Seeing his vague response and the mention of Xiao Chuting, Xiao Chuchou didn't overtly say anything. However, he had subtly alluded to it and simply nodded, softly saying,

"Then there's no need for me to say more. Our two families rely on each other. If you succeed in reaching Foundation Establishment in the future, send someone to inform my Xiao Family, and let our two families unite through a marriage alliance to support each other."

Xiao Chuchou's words were straightforward. Li Tongya was steady by nature, the elder brother of Li Chijin, and had received guidance and favor from Xiao Chuting; he also had a good relationship with Xiao Yongling, and over the years they had corresponded through letters, which reassured the Xiao Family about him.

If Li Tongya achieved Foundation Establishment, the Li Family would have the backing of the Xiao Family. If he didn't succeed and perished in his cultivation, the relationship between the two families would end with the personal friendship between Xiao Yuansi and Li Chijin.

Li Tongya listened attentively and was overjoyed upon hearing this. He was a pragmatic person and did not feel estranged by Xiao Chuchou's words, thinking to himself,

"The Xiao Family now has Xiao Chuting, a Zifu Cultivator, Xiao Chuchou at the peak of Foundation Establishment, plus three other late-stage Foundation Establishment cultivators, and five cultivators at the earlier stages of Foundation Establishment and pre-Foundation Establishment. They are already a family superior to others under the Three Sects and Seven Doors, matched only by a few families such as the Yu Family in Linghai County and the Chen Family in Qiuyang County."

"Even if the Xiao Family separates from the Green Pond Sect and becomes a Zifu Immortal Clan in the future, they cannot intervene at will in matters concerning Wangyue Lake, due to their ties with Green Pond Sect. But after all, they are a strong ally, and the Xiao Family also needs us as a barrier on Wangyue Lake to facilitate the trade of elixirs and magic artifacts. Mutual benefit for both parties is indeed excellent."

Li Tongya then made a bow with his hands and said with a solemn expression, well aware of the Xiao Family's intentions,

"I am deeply honored by the Elder's high expectations! My Li Family will certainly serve as the noble family's barrier, guarding Wangyue Lake."

"What an exaggeration!"

Xiao Chuchou chuckled and nodded repeatedly, quickly helping Li Tongya to his feet and holding his hand with a smile, an amicable voice echoing in the courtyard,

"We just support each other, my young friend is too courteous."

After exchanging pleasantries for a while, the group took their seats again. Xiao Chuchou chatted about some recent events, his tone becoming more moderate, and as the intervals between their conversation grew longer, Li Tongya quickly used mana to send a message outside. Li Xuanxuan received the news and slowly walked into the courtyard, presenting four jade boxes.

"This junior has four spiritual objects here, which I would implore the elder to inspect..."

Li Tongya murmured warmly, Xiao Yuansi set down his tea bowl, his alchemy cultivation was excellent; he took the jade boxes, glanced at them, and understood everything, saying softly,

"These four spiritual objects are common in Qi Cultivation. According to the pill scripts I know, three of them can only serve as auxiliary ingredients, while one is the main ingredient."

"If you trust me, sell the auxiliary materials to my family, and entrust me with the alchemy of the main ingredient, sharing the proceeds as always. Once the pills are created, I will have someone deliver them to your noble family."

Li Tongya had been waiting for Xiao Yuansi to say this and said with a bow,

"Then I will trouble the elder with this!"

Upon handing over the four jade boxes to Xiao Yuansi, Xiao Yuansi spoke about the functions and values of the four types of spiritual medicines, suggesting twenty spirit stones as payment for the three auxiliary medicines. After chatting for a while, the two got up to take their leave and headed for the Xiao Family.

The two took flight from the formation, bidding farewell to Li Tongya. After flying for some time, Xiao Chuchou finally spoke,

"Yuansi, Rulian is already nineteen. What do you think about letting her marry into the Li Family?"

Xiao Yuansi thought for a moment, then answered in a low voice,

"It might not be appropriate. If a marriage is to happen, she should marry someone from the Li Family of the Yuan generation. Rulian is of the same generation as the Xuan generation of the Li Family, and all those of the Xuan generation already have official wives. Marrying into the Yuan generation would mess up the familial hierarchy. Perhaps we should choose someone from the Guiluan generation instead."

Xiao Chuchou nodded and said in a deep voice,

"Then let it be Guiluan. The age is suitable, and with some years to wait, it will be just right when Li Tongya breaks through to Foundation Establishment."

————

Li Pingyi, now sporting a quite full mustache and in the prime of his youth, shook his sleeves with importance and stepped into the courtyard, nodding to his wife who came to greet him, only to hear his official wife whisper,

"You've arrived just in time, my lord. We've been looking for you. Auntie has been waiting for a long time."

Li Pingyi hurried into the courtyard upon hearing the words and saw Li Feiruo sitting cheerfully to the side, dressed in the everyday attire of the people from the east, no longer displaying the splendid elegance she had in the Shanyue region, which made her seem even more amiable. She said with a smile,

"Pingyi, you are truly busy. It's not easy to see you even once."

Li Pingyi gave an awkward smile and replied,

"Auntie, about the task you entrusted to me, I have already inquired with the Young Master."

"Oh?"

Li Feiruo immediately perked up, listening intently, as Li Pingyi smiled and said,

"Auntie, you are well-versed in the matters of Shanyue. The Young Master has given it careful thought and decided to send you to the Lichuan Entrance in the far west, to take charge of a town's affairs, trade with Shanyue, and control the influx of Shanyue refugees crossing the border. This is something you are most skilled at, and within three days, you should receive the transfer orders."

"That is very good."

Li Feiruo was quite delighted and said softly,

"I am grateful for the trust of the family and will definitely not disappoint."

Li Feiruo had joined Shanyue in her teens and had always been decisive in her actions, with a natural talent for management. She could not stay idle, content with merely being a wife and mother. Now that there was a task at hand, she was eager to muse over the situation.

After chatting idly for a while, Li Pingyi was approached hurriedly by a clan soldier who whispered a few words into his ear.

"Sir, there is news from the mine. A treasure bead has been unearthed from within, and Xu Gongming has made a trip to the mine and secretly brought it back."

Li Pingyi's eyebrows raised slightly, and his expression lit up with surprise. Li Feiruo, seeing this, chuckled gently and gracefully took her leave. Li Pingyi politely saw her out of the courtyard before turning to ask,

"Xu Gongming is also a Cultivator of the Third Layer of Fetal Breathing, and he cannot even identify what kind of Spiritual Object it is, let alone determine its approximate grade?"

The clan soldier shook his head and replied,

"Xu Gongming only said that its aura is vast and it is certainly not Fetal Breathing Level."

"Where is the object?"

Li Pingyi asked, to which the clan soldier replied,

"Xu Gongming is waiting outside the courtyard with the treasure bead."

"Good, follow me to see the Young Master."

Li Pingyi led the way out of the courtyard. His annex was built next to the Clan Head Courtyard, and after walking a short while over the cobblestone path, they entered the Clan Head Courtyard. He took a wooden box from Xu Gongming, passed the front hall and the central chamber alone, and traversed the dimly lit corridor. Li Yuanxiu was seated at the upper end, carefully reading a Wooden Slip.

"Young Master,"

Li Pingyi presented the wooden box with both hands and explained the preceding events and consequences in full. After listening, Li Yuanxiu nodded and said softly,

"Let me take a look."

Li Pingyi opened the box and took out a dark, translucent treasure bead, about the size of a fist. Li Yuanxiu reached out to take it and immediately felt a slight tingling and heaviness in his hand. After inspecting it for a while, finding no clues, he quirked an eyebrow and asked,

"It's likely a Qi Cultivation Spiritual Object. Uncle Qiuyang and Aunt Donghe have both gone to Huaqian Mountain, and I don't know if my father and the others are in seclusion or not..."

"Actually, a Foundation Establishment elder from the Xiao Family just visited this morning. He only left a short while ago, so he probably isn't in seclusion."

Li Yuanxiu lifted the treasure bead and said warmly,

"Later, take this Spiritual Object to Uncle and ask him to have a look."