Family Cultivation: I Become a Mirror-Chapter 240 - 222: The Appraisal of Qiuyang

"Xiao Chuting of the Xiao Family of Lixia, has today attained the Zifu! By tradition, the Xiao Family shall henceforth depart from the Green Pond Sect, taking honor as a Zifu Immortal Clan. Three months hence, the ceremonial rites shall be held; all Taoist fellows are invited to bear witness!"

"The Xiao Family of Lixia…"

Divine Skills rippled through the sky like waves, passing from above Li Xia County over Wangyue Lake, Mushroom Forest Plain, Green Pond Peak, and even to Linhai County. The mortals all looked up in bewilderment, gazing at the heavens; cultivators exchanged glances, ascending into the air to inquire among themselves:

"Xiao Chuting?"

"He dares call the Perfected Person by name so openly? Is he truly unafraid of death!"

"It is that ancestor of the Xiao Family skilled in the Alchemy Dao… Yet another Zifu Immortal Clan arises…"

Cultivators all around soared skyward, bowing in salute toward Xiao Chuting, who remained poised aloft. In the distance, there appeared a man in azure robes, likewise suffused with the radiance of Divine Skills, who cupped his hands and said:

"Congratulations to Taoist Fellow for ascending to the Zifu. I am Ning Tiaoxiao of the Green Pond Sect, and on behalf of the sect, I extend congratulations. As a token of esteem, I bestow upon you the Five Western Towns of Lixia. May Taoist Fellow's divine arts flourish and may you forge the Golden Core."

Xiao Chuting smiled softly and replied:

"My family has served faithfully under the sect for more than three centuries; all bonds are extant. May the Immortal Sect continue to show us guidance in the days to come."

Upon hearing this, Ning Tiaoxiao's expression brightened and he laughed heartily:

"Taoist Fellow is discerning and gracious; the Xiao Family shall surely prosper ever more!"

He then spoke solemnly:

"Si Yuanbai suffered unjustly by the hands of petty men, but he has now been released from the tower. The sect has made recompense for his losses. The young ones acted rashly; I, Tiaoxiao, fear it may have harmed the alliance between our clans."

Xiao Chuting nodded with a beaming smile. By his side, yet more figures emerged, each suffused with radiant Divine Skills, who all declared:

"Tang Jin Sect offers felicitations to Taoist Fellow!"

"Changxiao Sect offers felicitations to Taoist Fellow!"

The Zifu cultivators all presented themselves with bright smiles, utterly concealing any sign of once regarding Xiao Chuting—a mere Foundation Establishment Peak cultivator—as expendable. Each effused with multicolored divine light, appearing ethereal and transcendent; even a Fox Demon, bearing four fox ears, lounged upon the Cloud Peak, gazing upon him.

————

"Xiao Chuting of the Xiao Family of Lixia, has today attained the Zifu!…"

Li Tongya stood atop the summit of Lijing Mountain, slowly lifting his gaze, face alight with some measure of delight as he murmured:

"Chi Wei has met his end so swiftly."

By his side, a youth wielding a golden longbow raised his head lightly, and said in a low voice:

"Serves him right."

Li Tongya tightened the sword in his grasp, and spoke softly:

"This is no small matter. In three months' time, I shall attend the Xiao Family in person. For now, dispatch Donghe to formally pay respects."

Li Xuanfeng acknowledged the order, slinging his bow across his back and gliding downward on the wind. Soon, Li Xuanxuan and Li Xuanling hurried up. Both wore expressions of joy; Li Xuanxuan laughed,

"Chi Wei is dead at last. The Green Pond Sect is now in disarray. Their influence over the counties has waned greatly."

"Indeed!"

Li Xuanling nodded, eyes bright, replying:

"Now the Xiao Family controls the greater part of Li Xia County, leaving Wangyue Lake an isolated enclave, connected only by a handful of roads to Mushroom Forest Plain."

"Wangyue Lake borders both Tang Jin Sect and Da Li Mountain. Beyond the desert, it abuts Jin Yu Sect. The Green Pond Sect will surely enter a period of instability; Wangyue Lake has become a tasteless morsel—impossible to govern, yet a pity to discard."

Li Tongya gave a slight nod and said in a low tone:

"In a few months I shall go to the Xiao Family to observe the ceremony. These matters can then be further discussed with Xiao Yuansi."

"As you wish."

The two cupped their hands. But then Li Xuanxuan frowned, somewhat worried, and said:

"Yet with a Perfected Person newly ascending to Zifu, we cannot go empty-handed to offer congratulations; Qi Cultivation-stage Spiritual Objects are altogether too meager, but our house is out of Foundation Establishment-level Precious Medicines. What are we to do?"

Li Tongya pondered for a few moments, then replied:

"Indeed, we must present a gift suitable to Foundation Establishment caliber. The Xiao Family and ours are presently in close alliance, and we are seeking their aid; we dare not be in the least perfunctory."

"As for Foundation Establishment-level Precious Medicine, put your mind at ease. I shall presently visit Da Li Mountain to inquire of the fox. Should no tidings come, I will venture into the Shanyue domain."

He raised his head, and further inquired:

"What remains in our spirit stone reserves?"

Li Xuanxuan, understanding Li Tongya's intent, replied respectfully:

"Each year, the Spiritual Objects delivered as tribute from Shanyue leave a surplus. After distribution to the clan's cultivators, there are a hundred or so left, and with the many Spiritual Objects seized from Shanyue years past, our storerooms can yield nearly two hundred more."

"Very well, deliver them forthwith."

Li Tongya nodded, speaking gently:

"That should suffice if we purchase a more common Precious Medicine. You may set your mind at rest."

He waved his hand, and the two withdrew. Not long after, a clan soldier approached with bowed head, gazing at Li Tongya with reverence, and said respectfully:

"Patriarch, Li Qiuyang wishes to see you."

"Qiuyang."

Li Tongya raised an eyebrow, discerning Li Qiuyang's intent, and said softly:

"Show him in."

Soon enough, a figure appeared upon the flagstone path, clad in a long azure robe, temples streaked with white, weathered features creased with wrinkles. Guilt writ large upon his face, he bowed low in obeisance:

"Congratulations, Uncle, on breaking through to Foundation Establishment!"

"Mm."

Li Tongya gave assent, noting that his cultivation remained stuck at the Fetal Breathing Peak, his vital energy diminished, his presence grieved and spent. He said warmly:

"I recall you secluding yourself several years past, striving for Qi Cultivation. It seems it did not succeed."

"Qiuyang is deeply ashamed!"

Li Qiuyang sighed remorsefully, bowing his head as he said:

"I took the family's Cave Spring Che Spirit Art and Cave Spring Che Qi, secluding myself for a long time. Yet I could not assimilate nature's spiritual energy, and instead my lifespan diminished somewhat… I squandered the clan's Spirit Pills… I…"

Seeing Li Qiuyang wipe away tears as he bowed, Li Tongya sighed softly and spoke in a low voice:

"Both Fetal Breathing and Qi Cultivation remain of the mortal flesh. Near sixty years of age, the vital energies ebb and bodily cultivation becomes ever harder. Not until Foundation Establishment is a trace of spiritual marvel gained, a partial reprieve from the decline of life. You are over fifty; your chances were never great—do not bear such guilt."

He patted Li Qiuyang's shoulder and said gently:

"For now, you must take in mixed qi and strive to advance to Qi Cultivation. If you linger further, even that path may close to you!"

The refining of mixed qi is much simpler than that of the pure nature's spiritual energy. In years past, Shamo Li broke through by taking in mixed qi, spending but a year to pass the barrier. Li Xuanfeng and Li Xuanling each took, at most, five years; at least, three. Thus is the difference evident.

"I understand. Thank you, Uncle."

Li Qiuyang nodded silently. Li Tongya instructed:

"You are an elder of the house, the precedent for those attempting late-stage Qi Cultivation. Even Spirit Pills and the clan's secret Talisman Pills failed to aid your breakthrough, which attests to the challenge. Your lesson will warn future peak Fetal Breathing cultivators, over fifty years of age, to pursue mixed qi, sparing further injury and lost years."

The family's secret pill is the Talisman Pill. In recent years, Rage River Immortal has converted several Talisman Qi recipes into these pills, causing the Li Family to hold a large stock—yet they dare not sell them lightly. The Talisman Pill offers aid in breaking through minor stages; when Li Qiuyang swore the Xuanjing Spirit Oath during his attempted breakthrough, he received one, saving several years' effort.

Li Tongya's words relieved Li Qiuyang's spirits, for to aid the later generations with his experience, even at the cost of a shortened lifespan, felt worthwhile. He bowed deeply to Li Tongya and said lowly in sorrow:

"Uncle, do not mock me—I was favored by fortune in my youth, encountering that Spirit Fruit and progressing rapidly in cultivation. I fancied myself one blessed by fate, but never thought it would ultimately hinder my path. The shifting winds of fortune and doom defy all expression."

"If those who follow after heed my example, perhaps fewer will stray upon crooked byways. That alone makes it worthwhile."

"Indeed."

Li Tongya spoke gentle words of comfort, produced a Jade Bottle, formed an incantation, and from the Great Void summoned jewel-like drops of Talisman Water, collecting them within the Jade Bottle, then sealed it with a spell, placing it in Li Qiuyang's hand.