Family Cultivation: I Become a Mirror-Chapter 198 - 184: Colluding Person
"'According to the Emperor'..."
As these words were spoken, a sense of age and dominance rushed forth. Both Li Yuanxiu and Li Tongya paused in their tracks. Li Yuanxiu was somewhat composed, but for Li Tongya, who had seen many a secret to Immortal Foundation, this was the first time he had heard of one named after an Emperor. He couldn't help but muse:
"The Immortal Foundation formed by the 'River Qi Decision' is called 'Vast Sea,' and the one from the 'Cave Spring Che Spirit Art' is known as 'Cave Spring Sound.' Immortal Foundations are intimately linked to Cultivation Techniques. Ganixi's Cultivation Technique must also follow a path both tyrannical and strange."
By his side, Li Yuanxiu displayed a longing on his face. Hearing the names of these Immortal Foundations, he couldn't suppress his desire.
"To achieve Immortal Foundation, to travel across Xuan Ming, the allure of a Cultivator at Foundation Establishment phase is so tempting, I wonder if in this lifetime I'd be able to witness the realm beyond Qi Cultivation..."
The Li Family's direct lineage had already produced three Qi Cultivators, and Li Xuanling was only a step away from reaching it. The younger generation of the Yuanxiu, had mostly set their Cultivation Level expectations above Qi Cultivation, hence prompting Li Yuanxiu to entertain such thoughts.
Li Tongya asked Li Feiruo for more details, and she answered each question. Mu Jiaoman had been cautious during his lifetime and hadn't said much, so no further useful information was obtained.
"That will do."
Having no choice but to end there, Li Tongya spoke warmly to Li Yuanxiu:
"This matter has attracted much attention and drawn many eyes... We might become the object of envy and ought not to be away from home for too long. I shall remain here for a month, your father and a few elders are in the city, watching over. You and your father organize the affairs of the Shanyue territories, and we'll make our way back to the mountain together."
"As for Feiruo."
Li Tongya glanced at him, and Li Feiruo quickly expressed her wishes. Li Tongya nodded and said:
"You've worked hard these years, assisting Xiu'er with his duties. Come back to Lijing Town and live a peaceful life."
"Yes!"
Li Yuanxiu and Li Feiruo replied respectfully. Only then did Li Tongya nod and vanish, riding the wind as he left, taking away the brown eye pill. Li Yuanxiu and Li Feiruo exchanged a look in the courtyard. Li Feiruo made a "please" gesture, and Li Yuanxiu accordingly seated himself at the head of the table, saying warmly:
"Please trouble aunt to explain it to me!"
"It should be so,"
Li Feiruo nodded slightly, speaking softly:
"Eastern Shanyue currently has a population of over two hundred and twenty-six thousand, with eleven towns and sixty-three villages. There are sixty-two Fetal Breathing Cultivators and eight Qi Cultivators, all of whom practice mixed Qi and are not very useful. They're just about passable for cultivating Spirit Rice."
"There are six noble families in Eastern Shanyue, with the Mu Lu family at the helm. Most of the Cultivators come from these families, hoarding ninety percent of the wealth and Spiritual Objects. Shanyue are not adept at farming, and most Spiritual Fields lie fallow."
Li Yuanxiu nodded, saying softly:
"The land of the Shanyue is much more fertile than that of our Li Family, and although the size is similar, they have many more inhabitants. The Shanyue sustain themselves by hunting in the mountains and gathering crops, and while they do farm, they are not especially good at it. Once we've nurtured them, they could support tens of thousands more."
"My father has already sent people to investigate the Spiritual Fields, and in a few days, we should have a clear idea."
After speaking, Li Yuanxiu paused, seeing that Li Feiruo had something to say, and stopped to look at her.
"The Young Master speaks truly, but the matter at hand is how to deal with these Spiritual Objects in the hands of the nobles..."
Li Feiruo asked quietly, capable of surrounding and killing the Great Shaman in the court entirely because of the nobles' support. Now that she was about to leave court to return to Lijing Town, she did not hesitate to suggest dealing with these Shanyue nobles:
"These men are slick and slippery; they won't heed us unless we execute a few."
"Indeed."
Li Yuanxiu pressed his hands down on the desk and spoke in a gentle voice:
"I have asked Uncle Qiuyang and Uncle Donghe to lead clan soldiers to search house by house. Under the Spiritual Sense, those people will have nowhere to hide. Find an excuse to detain their descendants and use Spiritual Objects to exchange for them."
Li Yuanxiu paused slightly and sighed:
"I did not want to resort to such crude methods, but we only have one month's time and cannot afford to wear them down slowly, we have no choice but to raise the butcher's knife and deter them with slaughter."
————
Shamo Li rode the wind, flying over the eleven towns below, inserting his followers into each town. The melancholy from Qi Mu's nonsensical talk improved considerably. After leading the four Shanyue Qi Cultivators behind him around in circles, they finally descended to Mulu Town.
"Years have passed since I left in disgrace, and now I return in brocade clothes..."
Shamo Li sighed, reciting a few lines with the little literary flair he had learned from the Easterners. As his ink ran out, he stuttered without being able to spit out any more words. Suddenly turning his head, he looked disdainfully at the attire of the few Shanyue Qi Cultivators behind him and called out:
"You lot! Tie up your hair, what a terrible mess you all look in those tattered clothes!"
The group of Shanyue Qi Cultivators were stunned and asked in a foolish manner:
"Tattered?"
Shamo Li sighed softly, grabbed the hand of the man in front, patted his shoulder, and explained:
"You have lived in this pit all your lives and haven't seen the outside splendor. Give it another two years, and you will understand what's good and bad."
As they were chatting, they descended into the town and saw clan soldiers rushing through the streets with their weapons, the cold armor ringing crisply. They bypassed the wealthy households and the commoners' homes, targeting only the large estates. Led by either Fetal Breathing Cultivators or Qi Cultivators, they trampled up the stone steps and burst inside.
Angry shouts followed, the clan soldiers silently dragged bodies fattened on the hard-earned wealth of the populace. Unlike the Li Family Clan, governed by the Clan Head Courtyard, these Shanyue nobles did not engage in productive work and grew as large as pigs. Kicking and screaming under the knife, it took two clan soldiers to move them, dropping them before the steps as they continued to shout:
"Do you know who I am? My lord father is a Qi Cultivator!"
One of the clan soldiers immediately delivered a kick, causing the noble to roll on the ground in pain, unable to speak. The leader, a Fetal Breathing Cultivator of the Third Layer, stood expressionless, his long blade pointing directly at the man on the ground.
Shamo Li's expression changed as he watched, feeling uneasy. He stopped a group of clan soldiers and asked sternly:
"What are you guys doing?"
The person in charge looked serious and honest, meticulous in his manner. Holding a long blade, he replied sternly:
"I am Xu Gongming. I have seen the Great King. We are seizing people from the six great clans who have colluded with the remnants of Qi Mu by order of Young Master Jiao. May I ask what brings the Great King here...?"
"Ah."
Shamo Li, upon hearing that it was a search for remnants of Qi Mu, his expression changed again, a mix of shock and delight. He looked at those clan members with a venomous gaze and exclaimed:
"Good! My brother Jiao handles things cautiously! You can go ahead and act freely; I'll take responsibility if anything comes up!"
After speaking, he turned his head to coldly observe the four people behind him. The four Shanyue Qi Cultivators were from the six great clans. Hearing the orders, they all guiltily hung their heads, not daring to meet Shamo Li's gaze.
"Then I will carry out the order!"
Xu Gongming replied softly and gestured. The clan soldiers below immediately sprang into action.
