Family Cultivation: I Become a Mirror-Chapter 220 - 204: With Fei Wangbai

Wangyue Lake, as the stronghold of the Upper Sect's Moonlight Origin Mansion hundreds of years ago, naturally has excellent Earth Veins and Spirit Veins. The south shore is near Da Li Mountain and abounds with Spiritual Medicines and monster creatures, the west shore is adjacent to a desert, with loose geology producing various kinds of Spiritual Mines, the north shore is a convergence of Spirit Veins, with rich and beautiful mountains and rivers, while the Yu Family occupies the east shore, which is flat and fertile.

Li Tongya crossed Wangyue Lake for the first time, flying to the North Shore. Along the way, covering a journey of several hundred miles would take a day and a night by boat, and in some places there were Water Tribe monsters lurking, which came up and sniffed Li Tongya's Qi before slipping back into the water dejectedly.

Li Tongya couldn't be bothered with these monsters; he had no inclination to vanquish demons. Once in the water, these creatures were cunning and troublesome, and without the Fox Demon to gather information, there was a risk that killing a minor one might draw a more powerful one. It wasn't worth it for some trifling materials, as getting involved would only lead to more trouble.

Halfway through, he flew over the ruins of the market on Lake Zhongzhou, which had been thoroughly plundered. The big ships' business had long been unviable, leaving only the Forbidden Formation running on its own, emitting flashes of Thunder Light.

Li Qinghong watched quietly all the way until the North Shore came into view. She looked at the clear lake water hitting the cliff and causing splashes, while the waterfall from the Stone Cave flowed out onto the cliff, crashing into the lake with a thunderous roar. She took a closer look and said softly, 𝗳𝚛𝚎𝚎𝘄𝕖𝕓𝕟𝕠𝚟𝚎𝕝.𝗰𝕠𝐦

"The terrain of the North Shore is higher, the climate is cold, and the shore is filled with cliffs, stone walls, snowy peaks, and Cold Ponds. It's unlike the endless reed marsh next to my home. Each has its own advantages; in terms of habitation, the south shore has a more pleasant climate, but for Immortal Cultivation, the North Shore has the majestic mountains and rivers and convergence of Spiritual Veins."

Li Tongya nodded in approval and continued to fly northwards. The terrain became increasingly steep, and finally, a towering peak appeared before him, shrouded in clouds and pine trees, covered by a translucent Formation that gave it an ethereal Immortal Realm air.

Buildings were scattered among the mountains, and distant figures could vaguely be seen moving about, either sitting cross-legged or wielding spears and swords in combat, while the mountaintop was covered with snow, and amid it sat a tasteful small pavilion.

Draped in a gray robe, Li Tongya arrived riding the air, tapped lightly on the Formation, and with a low voice powered by Mana, he said,

"Loose Cultivator Wan is here for a visit. Please honor me with your presence, senior."

Immediately, several figures came riding the air below, their Spiritual Senses probed, and Li Tongya's robe, made from Spiritual Cloth, impassively kept these prying gazes out. After hovering in the air for a dozen breaths, he saw a streak of light fly up and stop in front of him.

This middle-aged man in Brocade Clothes and a white robe landed lightly before him with an elegant and charming demeanor; it was Fei Wangbai.

"This is not the place to talk, Brother Wan, please inside."

Fei Wangbai warmly addressed him as 'Brother Wan'. Li Tongya nodded and along with Li Qinghong landed on the small pavilion on the mountaintop. Following Fei Wangbai into the pavilion, they took their seats and picked up teacups. That's when Fei Wangbai sighed and said,

"Tongya, my brother, my condolences."

"Sigh."

Li Tongya paused, knowing what Fei Wangbai was referring to. Not wanting to dwell further, he gestured toward Li Qinghong and started,

"This young girl is the child I mentioned to the senior before. Please have a look at her, senior."

Fei Wangbai looked at Li Qinghong a few times, evidently pleased with her manner, then had her spread her hands and saw the calluses, slightly nodding before answering,

"Rest assured, Tongya, I will teach her myself."

This arrangement had already been agreed upon; it wasn't a surprise. As long as Li Qinghong didn't turn out to be an indolent scion, Fei Wangbai would surely take her on. With a mere gesture from Li Tongya, Li Qinghong knelt down and said reverently,

"Master!"

Fei Wangbai nodded repeatedly in agreement, thinking to himself,

"If she's sensible, that's enough. I don't expect her to make a name for herself. The girl is good looking, which is pleasing to see."

Fei Wangbai placed great importance on appearance, and the members of the Fei family were all handsome. Ragged appearances were unbearable to him, but seeing Li Qinghong's manner, he was relieved and said in a warm tone,

"You go out, I'll have a talk with your great uncle."

"Yes!"

Li Qinghong saw Li Tongya give a slight nod, respectfully withdrew, and stepping quickly out of the inner hall, she saw snow fluttering in the dark night sky, smiling as she took a step forward to open the courtyard gate.

"Ouch!"

Unexpectedly, someone stumbled in with a startled exclamation outside the door. Fortunately, Li Qinghong, being a Cultivator at the Third Layer of Fetal Breathing, elegantly dodged to the side, only to see a richly dressed young man tumble to the ground, grimacing in pain.

"Who are you?"

Li Qinghong smiled as she helped him up. At that age, one is usually at their most bright and vibrant, his voice assertive and vigorous as if it had been so since birth, yet his features carried a gentle softness, causing the young man's face to blush faintly, leaving him stammering and unable to speak.

"Fei… Fei Tongxiao"

"Ding."

Inside the room, Li Tongya watched Fei Wangbai set down his teacup with a slight smile, while Fei Wangbai shook his head in embarrassment and muttered:

"This child…"

"Adolescent whims, nothing to be taken seriously."

Li Tongya gently offered a way out, and Fei Wangbai nodded, bringing the conversation back to topic with a serious tone:

"Brother Tongya, are you truly confident that after Foundation Establishment, you will find more than two helpers for the process?"

"Indeed."

Li Tongya gently nodded, exuding confidence as he replied:

"My brother entrusted someone to bring me a Sui Origin Pill. With the boost from this elixir, it's already worth the bet."

Hearing this, Fei Wangbai sighed softly and said:

"We who are not disciples of the major sects have no inheritance of immortal techniques and secrets from generations past; it's uncertain how likely our own Foundation Establishment will succeed. Foundation Establishment has always been a bet with life itself…"

"My great grandfather died during it, so did my father, and among three generations of the Fei Family, ten who tried to break through Foundation Establishment only I succeeded."

The topic sank both of them into gloom. Coming back to his senses, Fei Wangbai clenched his teeth and said gravely:

"Fine! I trust Brother Li Tongya!"

He raised his cup in a toast, then smiled again:

"I can buy Brother Tongya three years' time. During these three years, the Yu Family won't be able to lift a finger against your family. After those three years, five more years will pass while Yu Mugao is entangled in troubles."

Seeing Li Tongya nod, Fei Wangbai continued:

"But Brother Tongya must succeed. The eight years I'm providing come at the expense of many sacrifices and hidden assets I've arranged. If Brother Tongya fails in Foundation Establishment and dies…."

Fei Wangbai sighed softly, his voice growing muffled:

"Then the lake will truly fall under the Yu Family's dominion, and within a hundred years, all families will be dismembered, one by one, extinguished by Yu Mugao!"

Li Tongya nodded silently. If he failed in Foundation Establishment, the threat the Li Family posed to the Yu Family would be greatly reduced, and the Li Family might enjoy temporary peace. However, once the news of Li Chijin's death spread, their clan would not escape extermination.

————

Li Tongya rode the winds above the lake for a while, until the resplendent dawn rose. As the vast expanse of reeds on the southern shore came into view, he stopped to gaze at it, his heart filled with myriad emotions.

"A bet with life."

Looking at a small island in the reeds, Li Tongya gently landed atop it. The rugged rocks glittered golden in the morning light, and he suddenly felt a sense of deja vu.

Years ago, he had carried Xiangping through the reed marsh, holding the Dharma Mirror while standing on this muddy shore, preparing to swim to the island as he took off his shirt. Xiangping, clutching the Dharma Mirror, hid among the reeds. Back then, Li Tongya was just an adolescent boy, his bare torso under the sunset as he instructed his younger brother.

"Master! Where are you heading to?"

Li Tongya slowly raised his head. On the calm surface of the lake, a small boat approached, rowed by an elderly man in a straw raincoat, his face lined with wrinkles, as he pushed a long bamboo pole through the water, and spoke with a beaming smile:

"Master, are you heading to Lichuan Entrance?"