Family Cultivation: I Become a Mirror-Chapter 123 - 114: The Plunder of the Market District

Li Xuanfeng rode the wind back to the Li Family and reported the mine situation to Li Tongya, who nodded slightly and said in a deep voice:

"In a few days, I will personally go to guard the mine. You should prepare yourself. Go to Xuanxuan and collect this year's tribute, then take a trip to the county and submit the tribute on behalf of our Li Family."

Seeing Li Xuanfeng nod, Li Tongya took a storage bag from the stone table in front of him and handed it to him, instructing:

"Besides the tribute for these five years, in the bag, there are also one hundred and fifteen spirit stones, a portion of River Essence Qi, almost our Li Family's savings of over ten years. Once you reach the Xiao Family, go find Xiao Yongling. The Xiao Family has always been on good terms with us and I have some relationship with him. Ask for his help in finding an Array Master to set up a Mountain Protection Array for our family."

"If there are any spirit stones left, go to the market and find a magic artifact that suits you."

"It is also worth asking about the Green Crow Mine incident. If you could find any news about your uncle, that would be even better... The Xiao Family is wealthy and influential, and Xiao Yongling is a clever man, he wouldn't cheat us out of the spirit stones."

"Yes!"

Seeing Li Xuanfeng nodded obediently, Li Tongya hesitated for a moment, then continued with advice:

"Keep a low profile and do not get into conflicts with others. If anything happens on the road, don't be greedy for the spirit stones; make sure to stay safe above all!"

After carefully listening to Li Tongya's instructions, Li Xuanfeng nodded firmly, then excused himself and went to the courtyard to say goodbye to Li Xuanxuan and Li Xuanling.

After leaving Lijing Mountain, Li Xuanfeng rode the wind, heading east along the ancient Lidao, crossing the Lu Family territory, and faintly heard thunder from the west. He tilted his head to listen for a while, but heard nothing further, so he continued east.

————

No sooner had Li Xuanfeng left Lijing Mountain than thunder roared in the sky. Li Tongya heard a buzzing noise beside his ear and a massive boom resonated.

"Who?!"

Li Tongya opened his eyes, shocked, and quickly exited his cave mansion, only to see the sky above Wangyue Lake to the north aflame with red, several fiery clouds converging overhead, turning the entire lake's surface like a sea of fire, with the glint of magic artifacts occasionally flashing above.

"Lake Heart Island... it's the direction of Wangyue Lake Market..."

A huge transparent protective barrier suddenly rose above the small island at the center of Wangyue Lake. Li Tongya spurred his True Yuan, looking up, and saw a dozen figures scattered in the sky.

"The Wangyue Lake Market has been established here for over two hundred years under the permission of the Green Pond Sect. Have you friends figured out the situation?"

Li Tongya was standing in mid-air, and an elderly voice echoed over the lake, the tone containing a hint of anger, clearly the owners of the Wangyue Lake Market.

"It seems that the owner of this Wangyue Lake Market is a Foundation Establishment Cultivator, so those besieging the market must also be at the level of Foundation Establishment…"

Li Tongya flew closer by a hundred miles, gazing from afar at the market, situated on the large island at the center of Wangyue Lake, which now revealed its concealed form due to the attack. It appeared overgrown with grass and featured staggered pavilions and terraces, resembling the realm of immortals.

"Chen Taoping, there's no need to pretend anymore. You've hidden on this Wangyue Lake for two hundred years, and had it not been for a fortunate coincidence, we might have been fooled by you!"

Another calm voice came through, and as Li Tongya listened, his Spiritual Sense was touched. He turned his head, his expression a bit strange, only to see a figure adorned with patterns, wearing animal bones and jade stones approaching from the west—it was the tribal character Mu Jiaoman.

Mu Jiaoman, too, had been attracted by the commotion and flew up to have a look. He was caught off guard when he met Li Tongya's gaze and was immediately shocked, hesitating to move forward or retreat. From a distance, he awkwardly sent a telepathic message:

"Brother Tongya…"

Seeing him ready to turn and run at any moment, Li Tongya couldn't be bothered with him and refocused on the noises emanating from the lake.

The elderly voice halted for a moment, then replied:

"Chen Taoping? Who is Chen Taoping? I am Zhang Cuotian. Friends, don't be misled by others and offend the Immortal Sect unjustly."

Yet another voice chuckled lightly and said in a cold tone:

"There's no need for delay. The Green Pond Sect has already given us permission. Today is the end for you, the remnants of the Ling Yu Sect! We have borrowed the Thunderstrike Array-breaking Wedge, and your Array won't protect you!"

The sky thundered ominously, with fire rain and lightning bolts raining down ceaselessly, causing the Great Formation to flicker erratically, casting a lurid glow of snowy white and crimson red across the entire Lake Wangyue. A considerable number of Loose Cultivators had already gathered around, all of them looking up in astonishment.

Li Tongya counted the time, knowing that within the span of one incense stick, the Great Formation would collapse with a thunderous crash. The sky was alight with variegated streamers as several figures clashed in mid-air, the clamor and wave of their Qi whipping the lake into a surging frenzy.

"What grand momentum; these individuals must all be at the Peak of Foundation Establishment, not far from reaching Zifu."

While Li Tongya was still listening, he saw more than a dozen figures, heedless of the battle's aftermath, dash into the ruins of the market that was once protected by the Formation, evidently harboring illicit motives.

"How tantalizing..."

Li Tongya squinted at the scene, noticing Mu Jiaoman also brimming with the temptation to act, eyes filled with greed. Mu Jiaoman sneakily glanced at Li Tongya but was horrified, exclaiming in shock:

"Fifth Layer of Qi Training?! How is that possible!"

Mu Jiaoman remembered clearly; just a few years ago, Li Tongya had been at the Third Layer of Qi Cultivation. How could it be that in just two years, he had reached the Fifth Layer of Qi Training?!

Hearing this, Li Tongya smiled and glanced at Mu Jiaoman, who was so frightened that his hair stood on end. With a shriek, he turned and ran without looking back, shooting off several hundred meters, with a faint blood light flickering about him, evidently resorting to witchcraft.

Li Tongya withdrew his gaze, looked down at the kaleidoscope of Magic Artifacts clashing above the large island in the lake, stroked his chin, and murmured to himself:

"Entering the fray directly is too dangerous, better to wait here for these people to bring the spoils to me."

After saying so, he flew for a while to adjust his position, concentrating on the colorful lights inside the market, waiting for those who acquired treasures to make their escape.

————

"Chen Taoping! Where is the 'River Tomb Scripture'?!"

The battle in the sky intensified, an elder clad in a white robe wielding a spear single-handedly facing three opponents. He was being suppressed by the several people beside him, retreating constantly. Gritting his teeth, he said:

"This old man doesn't understand what you are talking about!"

"Still stubborn at the brink of death."

One of the three Foundation Establishment Cultivators in the group chuckled coldly and replied. The magic artifact in his hand shone brightly, nearly causing Chen Taoping to react too slowly and almost losing an arm.

"The Ling Yu Sect is destroyed, but its inheritance cannot be leaked. Once we have captured you, we will conduct a thorough search for the whereabouts of the 'River Tomb Scripture'!"

"Pah!"

Chen Taoping spit fiercely and defended himself with his spear, unable to contain his anger. He cursed aloud:

"I don't seek to avenge the destruction of my sect! I just wished to spend the rest of my life on this lake, and you couldn't even leave me be, insisting on eradicating me completely!"

The Foundation Establishment Cultivator wielding the magic artifact furrowed his brows and said gravely:

"With the Ling Yu Sect destroyed, one of the sixty-one Jade Slips, containing the 'River Tomb Scripture', went missing; this is a grave matter! We have been chasing this for over a hundred years, without finding a single clue. Had it not been for this, we wouldn't wish to press you so desperately..."

"Your calculations are indeed meticulous."

With a look of bitter resignation on his face and driven to a dead end, Chen Taoping snarled fiercely:

"If I, Chen Taoping, had the 'River Tomb Scripture' in my hands at the Peak of Foundation Establishment, how could you be facing me? I could have reached Zifu and roamed the world freely!"

The Foundation Establishment Cultivator holding the magic artifact paused upon hearing this but continued to intensify the power of his artifact. The golden light it emitted grew more urgent, further slowing Chen Taoping's movements. He replied:

"We are merely following orders! Capturing you and conducting a search will reveal the truth!"