Family Cultivation: I Become a Mirror-Chapter 238 - 220: Gray Hairs Born in Vain
The Divine Skills radiance of Chi Wei burned away in the air like fire, yet that crystal-clear spot of light still pulsed like breath, flickering with the cries of a newborn, Chi Wei's now-young and handsome face filled with helplessness and resignation, he murmured to himself:
"This is where it ends."
"Peng!"
Before the words finished, his body had already vanished like smoke and dust, crumbling into a few streams of sand and ashes—some white, some gray—drifting down, trailing long serpentine wisps through the air. Above, the gathered Zifu whispered among themselves. One Zifu Perfected Person said:
"Chi Wei never even managed to condense his Metal Nature?"
Another Zifu Perfected Person merely raised his head to look at those two blurry figures. Sure enough, one of them let out a shrill laugh and shouted:
"We all knew you were the 'Heavily Muddied One', no need to keep pretending!"
The envoy said this and clapped his hands, drawing out a vast gray net with a laugh, saying:
"I borrowed Upper Immortal's [Nine Net Destiny Cloth], just to wait for you, you beast."
He pinched one corner and tossed the net, straining as he pulled; both arms stretched out long and thin like noodles, miming a tug, letting out a sharp laugh:
"Where do you think you're going!"
The net tightened and tightened, revealing in midair a twisting sphere. The other blurred figure laughed heartily, reached out to grab hold as well, helping to pull. That Metal Nature emitted a piercing shriek, slowly bound in place.
The assembly of Zifu watched silently, all feeling the sorrow of foxes mourning a rabbit's death. Below, Chi Zhiyun's tears streamed down her face. Only then did those two figures finish collecting Chi Wei's Metal Nature, turning to the group of Zifu with a smile:
"Taoist Fellows, we return now to report to our superiors."
As they finished, the two figures blurred and vanished into the air. The assembled Zifu, too, dispersed, leaving only two or three still standing in the sky.
"Now that Green Pond Sect has lost its peak-level Great Cultivator of Zifu, they'll have to bleed well for this!"
From above came a cold, clear female voice. As soon as the words landed, an elegant and noble youth's voice responded:
"Indeed, indeed!"
All the Zifu looked subtly unsettled at these words. A sonorous, weighty voice sounded:
"Fox, what dirty water are you stirring in? Is Da Li Mountain Demon Cave planning to meddle as well?"
The youthful voice gave a mocking laugh:
"Just here to listen, Taoist Fellows, no need to overreact... My ears can pick up the mutterings of little cultivators, but there's nothing like hearing it face-to-face."
Below, Chi Zhiyun listened in silence. The other four Zifu of the sect were now slowly rising into the sky. The heavy voice said:
"Let's see whose skills prevail, Taoist Fellows."
————
"How could I dare to ask for any reward!"
Li Tongya replied with a gentle laugh. At this, Xiao Yuansi shook his head repeatedly and explained:
"My senior in the line is named Xiao Jinzhou, Xianyou is his courtesy name. When traveling north and south, for fear of implicating the family, he went by 'Xiao Xianyou of Lingnan'. That is my senior. This is a Third Grade movement technique—certainly not something to be exchanged so casually."
Li Tongya could only nod, replying:
"Our Li Family has a daughter named Li Qinghong. She is especially fond of Spear Technique, but the Cultivation Technique she trains is peculiar and unsuited for marriage, hence I did not bring her to greet you, elder."
Li Tongya deftly shifted the topic to Li Qinghong, neatly laying a stepping stone from the earlier matter, and smoothly continued:
"But my Li Family's foundations are shallow, and we possess no noteworthy Spear Techniques. If your esteemed family has any such methods, might we borrow one for our daughter's study?"
Xiao Yuansi nodded; the Xiao Family knew of Li Qinghong but, as she had hidden with the Fei Clan for several years and not been seen, they thought her to have died young. After a brief pause for thought, he replied:
"There is one Spear Technique, called the Feather Breaker Spear—a Third Grade manual... But this movement technique is exceedingly rare; simply exchanging it for a Spear Technique would be too unfair to you."
"How about this—"
Xiao Yuansi shook his head and said:
"Beyond this Spear Technique, my Xiao Family will owe your family a favor—thus all is set right and fair."
Li Tongya cupped his hands, feeling greatly moved, and respectfully said:
"Senior, your virtue is truly admirable!"
Xiao Yuansi laughed heartily. After chatting with Li Tongya for a while, he then asked:
"Senior, do you know of Yu Muxian?"
Xiao Yuansi raised his brows slightly, pondering aloud: 𝐟𝐫𝕖𝗲𝘄𝚎𝗯𝕟𝐨𝕧𝐞𝚕.𝕔𝕠𝐦
"This one is a disciple of Yuanwu Peak, if I recall right, his Cultivation Level is between the Sixth and Seventh Layer of Qi Cultivating. His talent in Artifact Refining is not bad..."
He glanced over at Li Tongya, then asked quietly:
"Are you harboring intentions toward the Yu Family? With Yu Muxian's current standing, if the Green Pond Sect descends into chaos, it would be difficult to find anyone willing to protect the Yu Family."
Li Tongya nodded and pressed on:
"What about Yu Yufeng?"
Xiao Yuansi paused, then replied in a grave tone:
"Patriarch Chuchou once fought with him. This man's strength is formidable, not to be underestimated."
Li Tongya fell silent for a moment, then made up his mind and said heavily:
"In your view, Senior, if I wished to kill this man, would it be possible to enlist help from your family?"
"Killing Yu Yufeng..."
Xiao Yuansi sighed quietly and answered:
"If my family were to act, it would not be a problem in itself—however, at this moment my Xiao Family cannot afford to make a move. Let alone, to kill Yu Yufeng silently is immensely difficult. If a Foundation Establishment Cultivator acts, however discreetly, it will stir up trouble and offend many, and will amount to slapping Yuanwu Peak in the face..."
Xiao Yuansi's hesitation was clear as day. Li Tongya naturally would not press him here, so he promptly cupped his hands and said:
"I understand. Since this path is closed, the Li Family can try other avenues; Senior needn't take it to heart."
But Xiao Yuansi grit his teeth and waved his hand: in a deep voice:
"It is not truly closed!"
He considered for a few breaths, then continued:
"I will contribute this River Rapids Step, and persuade the Patriarch. Perhaps, after Chi Wei's death, with Green Pond Sect in disarray and unable to mind other affairs, it can be done silently."
"That would be best!"
Li Tongya's eyes lit up instantly; he cupped his fist and bowed, his voice earnest:
"Then I must trouble Senior. Please handle it as you see fit—if it cannot be completed, do not force it."
"I understand."
Xiao Yuansi nodded and, after discussing the marriage date of Li Yuanjiao and Xiao Guiluan with Li Tongya, stowed away the Jade Slip of River Rapids Step and departed on the wind.
Li Tongya escorted him to the barrier, then returned to the courtyard. Li Xuanxuan greeted him, face heavy with worry. He had been listening in just now, and grew anxious when he heard Xiao Yuansi's intent to marry a Xiao daughter into the family. Full of concern, he said:
"Uncle... Could the Xiao Family wish to swallow our vassal clan? If so, taking this secondary daughter would only bring us unease!"
The Xiao Family, with nearly two handfuls of Foundation Establishment Cultivators alone, was enough to unsettle Li Xuanxuan. If their main daughter was willing to marry in, even the Li Family would not dare accept. If Li Tongya met with misfortune, she would become the means for the Xiao Family to annex them.
"There should be no such intent."
Li Tongya shook his head with a low sigh and replied:
"Xiao Yuansi has spent his years on the peak, refining pills, and lacks the experience to manage family affairs—he meant well, but may have done ill. The ties between us and the Xiao Family run deep; within three generations, there is no need to fret."
He looked up slightly and spoke in a soft voice:
"What I do wonder about is this Xiao Guiluan—Xiao Yuansi says she is a clever woman, but I know nothing of her temperament. Yuanjiao leads the 'Yuan' generation branch; if paired with a forceful bride from her maternal line, the 'Xiyue' generation may see trouble ahead."
Li Xuanxuan blinked, not expecting Li Tongya to think so far ahead. Then he recalled Li Yuanjiao had been adopted as the son of Fourth Uncle Li Chijin, not born of the main line; thinking of Li Yuanxiu as well, Xuanxuan's heart grew heavy, and he said softly:
"It's too soon to say. With you here Uncle, any trouble will be kept in check."
Li Tongya shook his head and sighed, voice deep and weary:
"What good is keeping it in check? If brothers are divided beneath the surface, disaster only emerges after the elders are gone. I've witnessed too much of this, and the more I see, the more it terrifies me."
"It all comes down to what sort of person Xiao Guiluan is."
Li Tongya raised his head, gazing quietly toward the Xiao Family's direction in Li Xia County. He was already past sixty; Foundation Establishment had granted him youth, but still his temples were graying, betraying age.
Moonlight like water, the evening breeze lifted his slightly whitened long hair. Suddenly, an image emerged in Li Tongya's mind—of that bustling, servile old man of days gone by. He murmured:
"Too many worries—and all for nothing but these white hairs."
