Family Cultivation: I Become a Mirror-Chapter 210 - 195: Grudges (Two in One) _2

"Elder Ancestor, be careful, this object fears light."

Xiao Yuansi took out a specially made Dharma Artifact Medicine Pouch, collected the item, and looking at the series of medicine pouches draped over his body, Xiao Chuchou smiled and said:

"You're always prepared."

Since items like the Dharma Artifact Medicine Pouch and Qi-Gathering Bottles have space within and cannot be placed into a Storage Bag, Xiao Yuansi had to carry a string of medicine pouches cumbersomely like this. Hearing the words, he gave a wry smile, picked the nine-petaled spiritual Lycoris, and the two exited the cave to deal with the beast carcasses on the ground.

Xiao Chuchou cast a few Spirit Sealing Techniques, then suddenly spoke up:

"Given the current situation of the Xiao Family, the Li Family on Wangyue Lake can serve as a breakthrough point, guarding the west side for us... After all, Wangyue Lake leans against Da Li Mountain, which is a strategic location. Even if Chi Wei is dead, Green Pond Sect will mostly likely not abandon Wangyue Lake. With the relationship between the two families, using the Li Family as a shield is most appropriate."

Xiao Yuansi, with his head lowered casting spells, nodded and responded:

"I've heard that Yongling has a fairly good relationship with Li Tongya, and Ruyu is also acquainted with Li Xuanfeng, which is indeed a good thing."

Xiao Yuansi had promised Li Chijin to take good care of the Li Family. Seeing that Xiao Chuchou and the other elder ancestors had no intention of expanding westward, he felt relieved. Then he heard Xiao Chuchou, with a deep voice, say:

"That ancestor of the Li Family, Li Mutian, who rose from a mere peasant to a Loose Cultivator and finally achieved Foundation Establishment, must undoubtedly be of excellent character and integrity, raising children that are naturally not bad."

"Though Li Tongya's talent isn't high, his character is extremely good. Li Chijin should have inherited his talent for the Sword Dao... However, I've never heard of this person Li Mutian before, he must not have made a name for himself in Yue Country."

While Xiao Chuchou was pondering this, he suddenly furrowed his eyebrows and asked:

"All four sons of Li Mutian possess a Spiritual Aperture?"

Xiao Yuansi, unaware of his thoughts, contemplated for a moment, then replied:

"The eldest son died young; the remaining three all have Spiritual Apertures."

"Oh?"

Xiao Chuchou raised an eyebrow, his wrinkled old face squeezing together as he continued:

"What about the 'Xuan' generation?"

After recalling for a while, Xiao Yuansi said with some uncertainty:

"Three sons and one daughter; the three sons all have Spiritual Apertures."

Xiao Chuchou picked up the tail of the spiritual beast, flipped over the carcass, and put it into a Storage Bag, then said:

"Down the line would be the 'Yuan' generation, right?"

"Precisely."

Xiao Yuansi nodded and answered:

"I'm not very clear about the Yuan generation; there should be more people, but I only know of about three Spiritual Aperture Seeds."

Only then did Xiao Chuchou nod, feeling it was more normal, and with a wave of his hand, he said solemnly:

"Li Mutian is by no means simple; this man most likely consumed some special natural treasures. The Li Family's bloodline doesn't seem like that left by a mere Foundation Establishment Cultivator; it's more akin to that of Zifu Monks!"

"Oh?!"

Xiao Yuansi had never considered this perspective, and was quite surprised at the moment. His elder ancestor was knowledgeable and broad-minded; when the Xiao Family was in decline, it coincided with his Qi Cultivating Peak. He had given the family's Precious Medicine and Sui Origin Pills to Xiao Chuchou, so Xiao Chuchou went out to search for opportunities by himself and thus was more informed. Xiao Yuansi reflected on the conduct of the brothers Li Tongya and Li Xiangping from those years, and nodding thoughtfully, he replied:

"Indeed, it's not simple."

The two mounted the wind and flew towards the direction of the Li Family. Suddenly, Xiao Chuchou smiled unexpectedly, and whispered:

"I have an idea. Since the Li Family's lineage is outstanding, our Xiao Family can try to enter into marriage alliances with them. On one hand, it would solidify the relationship between the two families, and on the other hand, who knows if a prodigy might emerge. If the Li Family can unify Wangyue Lake, our family will not only use them as a shield but can also form an alliance with them, supporting each other like lips and teeth."

Xiao Yuansi nodded, smiled warmly, and responded:

"Elder Ancestor means like how the Green Pond Sect's Ning Family and Chi Family did back then, complementing each other's Cultivation Techniques, clinging on to Green Pond together..."

"It need not be that close." 𝓯𝓻𝒆𝙚𝒘𝓮𝙗𝓷𝒐𝓿𝙚𝒍.𝙘𝓸𝙢

Xiao Chuchou shook his head and answered:

"It's good for the two families to intersect, but a marriage too close carries the risk of mutual usurpation. It's good enough to rely on each other for benefits and bind the two families with a master-disciple relationship."

"Yes, junior understands," Li Tongya said.

As the two conversed, Lijing Mountain appeared on the horizon. At the foot of the mountain, lively fireworks rose into the air, and a pale gold Great Formation emitted a faint light in the morning glow, resembling an immortal realm.

———

Li Tongya picked up a jade box from the table and inspected each one carefully, stacking them together with a slight shake of his head and a hint of regret.

"These spiritual objects obtained from Shanyue are effective even for those at the Qi Cultivation Level, but without a Pill Script or an elixir, consuming them directly not only reduces their effectiveness, but also could be harmful and make future breakthroughs even more difficult."

Spiritual objects not only had various effects, but they also contained impurities and negative side effects. Alchemy was about using a variety of spiritual objects to harmonize with each other and refine elixirs, to minimize the impact and enhance the effectiveness.

Handing the jade box he was holding to Li Xuanxuan, Li Tongya suddenly remembered something and asked, "Has Qiuyang still not grasped the breakthrough?"

Li Xuanxuan nodded, also puzzled, and replied, "I've asked Qiuyang, and it's true that he lacks something; it really shouldn't be like this... Logically, Qiuyang's talent was not less than Donghe's, yet he shouldn't have fallen to this."

Li Tongya pondered for a long time and finally remembered something from a long-sealed memory, suddenly realizing the truth and said softly, "Do you still remember that Serpent Jiao treasure tree in our family?"

"Of course I remember."

Li Xuanxuan nodded. The Serpent Jiao treasure tree could be considered one of the Li Family's most valuable possessions next to the Dharma Mirror and Green Ruler Sword, producing a Serpent Jiao fruit every five years. They had relied on Xiao Yuansi to refine it into an elixir, and several family members had used the Serpent Origin Pill to assist with their breakthroughs in Qi Cultivation.

Li Tongya shook his head, recounted the past events, and said gently, "When we discovered that treasure tree, it was thanks to Qiuyang. The boy had good fortune; he was still young when he snuck into the mountains and accidentally ate a Serpent Jiao fruit. Fortunately, the fruit was mild in nature. He was unconscious for several days, but afterward his cultivation advanced by leaps and bounds, only taking him one year to form his Xuanjing Wheel."

Li Xuanxuan listened carefully to the old stories, and Li Tongya sighed before continuing, "Back then, we all thought it was the child's fortune. But we never considered that blessings and misfortune come together. Qiuyang's cultivation was faster, yes, but carelessly consuming a spirit fruit without cultivating has ultimately left him with latent weaknesses, causing him to now be stuck at the Fetal Breathing Peak and unable to progress."

Li Xuanxuan suddenly understood and nodded. Li Tongya picked up the teacup on the table and said in a low voice, "The Spiritual Spring on Huaqian Mountain in our family's mountains has the thickest Spiritual Energy. Go down and explain the cause and effect to him, then send him to cultivate on Huaqian Mountain."

"Yes!"

Li Xuanxuan responded respectfully but suddenly looked up as the Great Formation hummed, and an aged voice passed through the formation.

"Xiao Chuchou of the Xiao Family has come to visit, I kindly ask for Tongya, the junior, to open the formation."

Li Tongya quickly opened the formation and rose into the air, seeing Xiao Chuchou and Xiao Yuansi smilingly entering, landing on the mountain's peak. Li Tongya bowed his hands in greeting and said, "I've seen both seniors!"

"Tongya, the junior, is as courteous as ever," Xiao Chuchou said with a chuckle as he followed him into the courtyard, sitting down with Xiao Yuansi and accepting the tea offered, casually chatting before mentioning lightly, "I've traveled far and wide, and I have a fair understanding of formations. Your family's Great Formation is ingeniously conceived; it has some substance to it."

"It was built by Master Liu Changdie," Li Tongya replied. Upon hearing this name, Xiao Yuansi arched an eyebrow and said warmly, "I've also met this Liu Changdie, quite an interesting character. His mastery of formations is refined, and he talks like an old scholar, nearly a hundred years old. His network is indeed vast."

Xiao Chuchou was not particularly interested in this and diverted the topic, examining Li Tongya for a moment and asking in a low voice, "Tongya, the junior, what are your chances for Foundation Establishment?"

"My Cultivation Level is not yet at Perfection; I still do not know," Li Tongya replied.

Without the vibration of Immortal Foundation being formed, he respectfully responded to the inquiry. Xiao Chuchou nodded, imparted some tips on Foundation Establishment, and Li Tongya, who had mostly relied on himself in his cultivation journey, naturally treasured such an opportunity. He memorized Xiao Chuchou's words as though they were precious gems, with Xiao Yuansi adding a few comments on the side.

After listening, Li Tongya thanked them profusely. Xiao Chuchou laughed and gestured dismissively, then looked intently at Li Tongya, saying with a smile, "Tongya, the junior, also has some understanding of my family's matters, no?"