Family Cultivation: I Become a Mirror-Chapter 195 - 181 Brothers Turning Against Each Other
Qi Mu did not respond; he cast his eyes down over the battle formation below, where the cold gleams from the armor were glaringly obvious. He immediately grasped the easterners' plan, his mind went blank, and he looked around, not knowing how many people were hidden in the mist.
"It is said that the Li Family ancestor has the eighth layer of Qi cultivation and is skilled in swordsmanship, having consumed pure nature's spiritual energy. If we attempt to flee now, I'm afraid we won't get far…"
"My lord! Let me confront this Shamo Li."
The few Qi cultivators nearby, unaware of the risks, eagerly stepped forward with clasped hands, volunteering bravely. Only Zhong Yudai, an old retainer left by his father Mu Jiaoman, remained silent, his hands trembling as he stared down at the troops nervously, lifting his head to look at Qi Mu, mouth agape but without saying a word.
"You... and you, both of you go and test him."
Qi Mu gave him a deep look, calmly picked two people, and watched as two eager members of his tribe stepped forward. Then he summoned the old retainer Zhong Yudai, passing a message through mana whisper:
"Woe... Shaman, Shamo Li has already colluded with the easterners, this time they most likely want me dead. You take some troops and head west, take my son and two daughters out of the city, find a city where they can live on their own, ensure a future for them. Let them not compete for anything..."
With his eyes red, Zhong Yudai sighed deeply, then left. The two people beside Qi Mu exchanged glances, sensing something was amiss. They wanted to ask, but seeing Qi Mu's grim face gazing at the sky, they found no way to speak up.
Shamo Li, upon seeing the two men coming towards him, one at the second layer and the other at the third layer of Qi cultivation—both surpassing him in cultivation level—showed no fear. Triumphantly, he raised his two large hammers and swung them fiercely at one man.
The Shanyue Qi cultivators, adorned in animal bone and Jade Stone armor, clattered loudly. With a savage expression, they laughed loudly, holding a bone spear in hand, flowing with mixed true essence, and thrust it towards Shamo Li's hammer.
Shamo Li's body glowed with purple true essence, sparking with thunderbolts that spread from his hands to his hammers and collided thunderously with the bone spear. The true essences of both clashed violently, and where they met, exploded with tiny sparks of electricity.
The Shanyue Qi cultivator was struck hard by Shamo Li's hammer and his smile vanished in shock. He retreated, his half-body numbed by the hit, but fortunately, a Qi cultivator with a higher cultivation level was by his side and stepped forward with a rod to fend off Shamo Li's offensive.
He then found a moment to catch his breath, after a few exchanges with Shamo Li and seeing his formidable true essence, he urgently shouted:
"My lord, this man's cultivation technique is strange. The two of us alone might not withstand him!"
Seeing Shamo Li's true essence, Qi Mu affirmed his judgment even more, waved his hand silently, and the remaining two went with the wind, adding pressure. Qi Mu remained still, thinking to himself:
"Shamo Li must have received the easterners' Orthodox Law. Being a man's dog, now is just about stalling for time, to buy my children some escape."
As the four Shanyue Qi cultivators pressed on together, Shamo Li felt the pressure intensify. Though he swung his hammers with might, causing everyone's bone spears and knives to burst back upon contact, the four of them took turns in the fight, having time to dissolve the thunderbolt force, and they were not hard-pressed.
Shamo Li fought impressively, but internally, he felt indescribable agony. His mana was sparse, and while his might was enormous, it was unsustainable—rapid victory was essential. As the four held him at bay and the Li Family members were still not taking action, he had no choice but to grin and yell:
"Family... Family Head, save me!"
As soon as these words were uttered, a man rose up from the eastern army formation holding a sword, his true essence robust. He broke into the midst and sent two of their bone-made magic artifacts flying with a flick of his hand. He glanced at Qi Mu, who had not made a move, and without announcing his name or uttering a word, silently wielded his sword to meet the enemy—it was Chen Donghe.
Chen Donghe held off the encirclement of the four all on his own, still looking entirely at ease as he spoke in a deep voice:
"Brother Shamo Li, you go straight for Qi Mu, leave this place to me."
Chen Donghe, at this time at the second layer of Qi cultivation, had cultivated his family's Orthodox Law, the River Qi Decision. This deep and profound technique was like a river, especially good for dealing with multiple opponents. Even if it did not kill, it could stabilize the position and withstand pressure without any issue.
Now that he had become a son-in-law to the Li Family, he obtained the inheritance of the Mysterious Water Sword Technique. Although he had not yet developed the sword Qi, his battles with these mixed Qi cultivators were forcefully dominant, causing the four to struggle greatly. They weren't as pressured as when facing Shamo Li, but their continuous attacks were relentless and evidently not comparable to Shamo Li's feigned expressions.
"Donghe is indeed not bad, with a good talent, diligent in training, and especially solid foundational skills."
Li Tongya from above praised, observing Chen Donghe's swordsmanship, which, although not as distinguished as Yu Mujian's, was still adequate for combat. Encountering different enemies, he could fight and hold his ground for some time, avoiding a quick defeat.
"It is true that Jingtian has never had any children, and Donghe spends a lot of time in seclusion. Thankfully Yuanyun keeps him company, otherwise, it would be quite lonely."
Li Xuanfeng was worried about his sister. Hearing this, Li Tongya shook his head and whispered:
"Chen Donghe is now a Qi Cultivator, it's already difficult for him to have children, and Tian'er being a mortal makes it even less likely."
As the two of them were talking, Shamo Li had already agreed with a response and broke away from the group of four, hammer in hand, flying towards Qi Mu.
Qi Mu, seeing Chen Donghe standing alone against everyone, sighed with resignation, and stepping into the air with his blade pointed, faced the approaching and triumphant Shamo Li, his voice filled with both despair and anger as he coldly said:
"Shamo Li... do you even know what you're doing!"
"What am I doing?"
Shamo Li sneered viciously, his hammer shining with purple thunder light as it crashed down, striking Qi Mu's oncoming longsword and sparking off a scatter of purple light as he shouted:
"Who are you to lecture me, not realizing that this path is Shanyue's true road to salvation!"
"You... you've wasted father's instructions!"
Shamo Li clashed with him several times, each blow heavy and powerful, pushing Qi Mu back step by step, his body tingling and his True Yuan not flowing smoothly, making him no match for Shamo Li. Hearing his words, Shamo Li's vicious laughter intensified as he replied:
"You dare to mention him? For what reason should Mu Jiaoman! You get to be the ruler of a nation, yet I'm supposed to bow my head to be slaughtered... As the eldest son, you've had everything go your way, but have you ever felt what it's like for the likes of us?"
Qi Mu had fought him for the time it takes an incense stick to burn and was now utterly drained, his limbs powerless. Hearing this, he was momentarily stunned, then burst into loud laughter, shouting:
"I understand now... Shamo Li! So, you care so much about Mu Jiaoman... Listen to me..."
"No matter how glorious you become in the future, no matter how well you rule Shanyue, you'll always be nothing but a dog under Donghe's rule!"
Qi Mu stepped back several paces, then turned his blade against his own neck, the sharp edge sliding across his throat, drawing a line of blood. Qi Mu, his eyes filled with fierceness, scoffed:
"Father and I will know of this in the afterlife and laugh at you for your despicableness, for your incompetence, for being a lapdog to others, for your self-deception, for not being a filial son!"
Shamo Li shuddered at the words, caught between shock and anger, and shouted:
"Silence!"
But Qi Mu just sneered, pridefully moving the blade, and his head fell from his body in an instant, shaking like a bird as it fell from his blood-spraying neck.
Shamo Li, as if he had been slapped, took the head as though in a trance, barely glancing at it before his gaze was scorched away. He held up Qi Mu's head, disoriented, and declared:
"Qi Mu is dead, those who surrender will not be killed."
The four Shanyue Qi Cultivators looked at each other, hesitating as they ceased their actions. Below them, the military formations were in chaos, cries and screams blending with the damp morning breeze rushing at them. Shamo Li's cheeks were slightly wet, unaware as he looked down at the majestic mountains veiled in light morning fog, murmuring to himself:
"What my brother said... should I really have resigned myself to death, or fled to drift in foreign lands for life! By what right... by what right indeed..."
Chen Donghe, riding the wind, drew near, and seeing Shamo Li holding Qi Mu's head in a daze, he paused, noting how Qi Mu's blood had sprayed over him without him realizing it, as Shamo Li just stood there dazedly, tears streaming down his face. Chen Donghe sighed softly, offering his congratulations:
"Congratulations, your majesty!"
