Family Cultivation: I Become a Mirror-Chapter 187 - 173 Preparing for the Sacrifice

Li Xuanling set down his jade chopsticks, his expression taking on a few shades of despondency. It was some time before he spoke:

"But what can we do about it? Yuanyun and Jingtian suffer from the same plight. If he wishes to stay on the mountain and read, let him do so. Could we possibly... ask him to descend the mountain? That would only hurt the child's feelings even more."

Lu Wanrong sighed softly and said in a gentle voice:

"It would be best if you were willing to teach him, sister. I originally planned to let him go down the mountain and find some worldly affairs to manage, to distract his mind and no longer feel depressed. Over time, his heart would calm."

When Lu Wanrong was young, she saw many of her clan brothers without a Spirit Aperture in the Lu Family, knowing how they all came through. With her rich experience, she had come to make this suggestion, but having him learn from Li Jingtian was naturally better than going down the mountain. Thus, she did not persist and instead changed the subject:

"Qinghong enjoys the spear technique. There are no masters of spear technique at home, and now that she has broken through to the second layer of Fetal Breathing, none of the ordinary mortals practicing spearsmanship at the foot of the mountain can defeat her. Could my lord find a way to choose a good teacher for her?"

"I've taken note, I'll ask father when there's an opportunity."

Li Xuanling nodded his agreement, and after a moment of intimate conversation with his wife, the stone door beside them creaked open with a grating, squeaky sound, shaking off some stone dust. A young man with a golden longbow on his back stepped out and, upon seeing the couple, arched his eyebrow and said:

"Ling brother, brother's wife."

"We pay our respects to eldest brother."

Both of them got up in response, and Li Xuanfeng nodded, his expression looking quite relaxed as he replied: 𝐟𝚛𝕖𝚎𝕨𝗲𝐛𝚗𝐨𝐯𝐞𝕝.𝐜𝗼𝗺

"I have just broken through to the Fourth Layer of Qi Cultivation. Seeing that the day of the sacrifice is drawing near, I came out to get some fresh air."

Li Xuanling, upon seeing him, let out a sigh of relief as if a great burden had been lifted, and said:

"As of now, we still haven't found a suitable demonic creature for the sacrifice, and I do not dare to disturb father while he is in closed-door breakthrough. Elder brother's emergence from seclusion comes at just the right time. Yuanxiu has sought me out several times, and I was just about to go knock on the door."

Li Xuanfeng set down the Jin Geng Longbow he held in his hand, instantly stirring up a wave of Qi on the ground. He sat down at the table alongside Li Xuanling, listening as the latter recounted all the happenings of the past few years. Only after hearing everything did he respond:

"Fortunately, these are all good things. When Shamo Li cultivates to the level of Qi Cultivation, there will be no need to trouble the second uncle. With one man and a bow, I will ensure that not a single Shanyue Qi Cultivator slips by."

Li Xuanling smiled and nodded, then reminded:

"We still haven't found a source for the miscellaneous Qi of Shamo Li. I've already asked Donghe to be on the lookout for it. I have not experienced a breakthrough in Qi Cultivation, so I'm unsure if there will be enough time."

"No matter."

Li Xuanfeng nodded and replied:

"Now that I've emerged from seclusion, I'll collect the Qi together when the thunderstorms and clouds gather. After all, it's just miscellaneous Qi and won't require much effort."

After finishing his words, Lu Wanrong had already prepared some tea. She placed the jade cups before the men, and Li Xuanfeng took a sip and laughed:

"How has Yuanxiu been managing the family affairs?"

Li Xuanling put down his jade cup, his face filled with contentment, and said softly:

"He's astute, orchestrating all tribal veins to follow him closely. Even the clan elders who gave Xuanxuan brother headaches came to me personally, full of praises in their words.

"With a combination of both soft and hard tactics, he takes care of the clan. He brings the larger and smaller sects closer, stirs trouble and aids in its escalation, causing the tacit understanding between the external surname Cultivators that had developed over many years to collapse overnight, resulting in their competition... This child has a way with managing the family, even surpassing you and me!"

Li Xuanfeng was momentarily stunned by Li Xuanling's high appraisal of Li Yuanxiu, then slapped his thigh and exclaimed:

"Really? As a child, he was quiet. I never would have guessed he had such talent!"

Li Xuanling laughed heartily when talking about Li Yuanxiu and began:

"Xiu'er is inwardly gifted, showing no extraordinary abilities at first glance; one tends to be off guard, only to be caught off guard by his strategies. Jiao'er, on the other hand, is immediately seen as someone brave and resolute. Both brothers are not to be underestimated!"

"Hahaha!"

It had been many years since Li Xuanling and Li Xuanfeng had seen each other, and the two chatted eagerly for a while. After a few moments' contemplation, Li Xuanfeng picked up the longbow and smiled:

"I will handle the matter of the sacrifice myself, catch some demonic creatures to bring back, and thus avoid any undue haste."

Having said this, he bade farewell to the couple and soared out of the Cave Mansion into the mountains. Lu Wanrong watched Li Xuanfeng fly into the distance and said softly:

"Eldest brother is also nearly thirty, yet he has not taken a wife and provided an heir; this is also a problem."

Lu Wanrong had only seen and spoken to Li Xuanfeng a few times, so she didn't have much of an impression of her husband's older brother. Deep down, she didn't consider it an important matter, even feeling somewhat relieved, for the more children there were in the family, the less attention was focused on Qinghong. Nevertheless, as his sister-in-law, she still had to say the proper words.

"Indeed."

Li Xuanling, who got along well with Li Xuanfeng, nodded solemnly, taking the matter to heart.

"But this matter has hit my older brother hard. I'm afraid he's not in the right state of mind to deal with it. We can't persuade him; only our father can do that."

————

Li Xuanfeng rose on the wind, following the route he had taken years before with Li Tongya when they had ambushed two from the Changxiao Sect. After flying for as long as an incense stick burns, he descended beneath a large banyan tree with white leaves.

A large fox was diligently digging at something in front of the tree roots, surrounded by numerous smaller foxes of various colors jumping around chaotically. They weren't afraid of Li Xuanfeng, even sniffing around at his feet and wagging their tails.

"Junior Li Xuanfeng pays respect to the senior," Li Xuanfeng said with a cupped fist salute.

The fox, upon seeing this, paused and hastily said:

"Where's Li Tongya? Why have you come? Did something happen to him out there..."

"My elder is currently in seclusion for a breakthrough, so he sent me in his stead," Li Xuanfeng responded.

At his words, the fox stood on its hind legs and squeaked:

"Is he attempting a Foundation Establishment breakthrough? That's a life-and-death situation..."

"My second uncle is currently at the Eighth Layer of Qi Cultivation. His seclusion isn't for a Foundation Establishment breakthrough."

Hearing this, the fox calmed down and called out:

"The cultivation of the Human Race really is swift. A breakthrough every two or three years... soon you'll surpass me."

After glancing at Li Xuanfeng, the fox said in a secretive manner:

"I've heard from the great demons of my clan that a certain individual in the western Shanyue is nearing the end of their life span, are you aware of this? Your family lives close to Shanyue; you should prepare yourselves!"

Seeing the fox showing such concern for Li Tongya and hastily reminding the Li Family, Li Xuanfeng felt a surge of goodwill and thought to himself:

"How amusing, the demons of this world are indeed far more sincere than humans..."

While such thoughts went through his mind, he replied:

"Thank you for the reminder, senior. My family is already aware."

"As long as you know!"

The fox gave a strong huff, as if it was somewhat disappointed not to see Li Xuanfeng react with immense joy and surprise to its news, making its venting feel like scratching an itch through a boot, unfulfilled. It flopped onto the ground and called out:

"What brings you here then?"

"Xuanfeng seeks to capture a couple of beasts. I kindly ask the senior to provide some guidance."

"Oh."

After receiving the Spirit Rice from Li Xuanfeng, the fox smiled broadly, revealing the locations of several beasts, watching him depart on the wind. The fox stuffed a handful of Spirit Rice into its mouth and squeaked:

"That's a fine Golden Bow."

————

Having flown for about half an hour, Li Xuanfeng saw before him a hill shrouded in mist, topped with fruit trees and herds of deer and antelope weaving through them. After watching for a while, he saw no sign of any beasts.

"That fox said there are pack hounds here, two of which are at the Qi Cultivation Level. Yet, I see none, not even a trace of Demonic Qi. They are indeed well-hidden."

After observing for a while, Li Xuanfeng finally spotted a grey pack hound on a large green rock. It was at the Third Layer of Fetal Breathing, with thick hind legs and short, weak forelimbs, sitting on the rock like a child, intently watching the deer below with its rump high and shoulders low. At first glance, it looked like a child wearing a grey sweater.

"Is it... herding?"