Family Cultivation: I Become a Mirror-Chapter 245 - 226: Demotion to Minor Lineage

"Zifu Perfected Person?!"

Fei Luoya was truly startled now. Before, he'd only heard that the Li Family's old ancestor held a venerable position in the Green Pond Sect, possessed the potential for Zifu, but he'd never imagined an actual Zifu Perfected Person would lower themselves to fraternize as peers with the Li Family. The difference between the two was like heaven and earth, worlds apart—unfathomably so—and for a moment, he didn't know what to say.

Though Fei Luoya had spent many years cultivating in seclusion atop Witch Mountain and understood little of worldly affairs or the art of words, he was no fool. His mind turned quickly as he thought inwardly:

"This isn't just some Zifu potential—hell, this is starting out at Zifu, maybe even hopeful for Golden Core. To make a Zifu Perfected Person condescend to call Li Tongya a brother, it's honestly unbelievable."

Looking again at Li Tongya's calm, unruffled expression, all of a sudden Fei Luoya saw the light, his heart secretly aghast:

"This surely isn't some lavish bounty! This is obviously some Zifu monk abusing authority for personal gain, using the Green Pond Sect's purchasing channels to profit the Li Family, all to curry favor with Li Ch—Sword Immortal, Li Tongya. Not only is he making friendly overtures, it's also a warning!"

This thought lingered in his mind for a while. The more Fei Luoya mulled it over, the more convinced he became. He couldn't help but inwardly praise his own clear-headedness and ability to infer from hints, shuddering as he thought:

"The world of ordinary people is truly riddled with hidden schemes in every word. We Shanyue folk are as pure as white jade in comparison. Luckily, I was born perceptive, able to grasp the deep from the shallow."

Fei Luoya's smile grew even more enthusiastic as he said with a laugh:

"The noble house is truly remarkable. I, Fei Luoya, am most impressed."

Li Tongya let out a soft laugh, knowing this fellow had probably discerned his veiled message. After a few words of small talk with Fei Luoya, he smiled and said:

"The Xiao Family's Perfected Person is to break through. I must go attend the ceremony, so I won't linger now. I'll come disturb you another day, my brother."

"Brother Tongya, feel free to go—don't mind me! In the future, my mountain is open for Brother Tongya to come and go as you please, no need for courtesy!"

Fei Luoya was now addressing him as 'brother' and dared not delay the business of a Zifu monk. Smiling broadly, he accompanied Li Tongya all the way out of the boundary, at last letting out a long breath of relief, murmuring:

"That finally defused the enmity between the Li Family and me—I can finally relax!"

"Li Tongya keeps his depth well hidden, but truly is a man of profound thought… After a few words, I could only be led by the nose."

Recalling their recent exchange, Fei Luoya ground his teeth in frustration and muttered under his breath:

"No point concerning myself with him. Fudai Mu has already advanced to Late Foundation Establishment; if I were still to offend the Li Family, wouldn't that be courting death? Things as they are now truly couldn't be better."

————

Having settled the matter of the precious medicine, Li Tongya's heart was greatly pleased. He flew east for a while, crossing lush forests, and landed atop Lijing Mountain. There, Li Xuanxuan was in his courtyard drawing talismans. Seeing Li Tongya arrive, he hurried down from his seat of honor, bowing his hands and saying:

"Uncle!"

"Mm."

Li Tongya replied with a genial smile, twirling his beard as he answered:

"The precious medicine is taken care of; all that's left is to attend the celebration."

These past half a month, Li Tongya had rushed about everywhere, seeking information and connections, and had finally resolved the affair. Seeing him travel-worn and dust-covered, Li Xuanxuan also smiled and said:

"It is still Uncle's Divine Skills that surpass all others."

"Heh."

Li Tongya waved it off, then continued:

"On the way, I also smoothed over the old grievances with Fei Luoya. Foundation Establishment cultivators among the Shanyue cultivate alone and have little demand of mortals or land, so there is no great, deep-seated grudge or conflict of fundamental interests between our families—they can be made into allies."

"What's more, Fei Luoya's witchcraft is bizarre and headache-inducing. Now that he is heading west, not only have we resolved a hidden threat, but perhaps in the future he may become a thorn in our enemies' sides as well, which would be no bad thing."

Li Tongya took the seat of honor, sharing his thoughts only now, then asked:

"How are things lately?"

Li Xuanxuan, hearing this, looked overjoyed and nodded repeatedly, then spoke in a low voice:

"Replying to Uncle—Xuanfeng has gone into the mountains several times to slay monsters and now stands at the threshold of breaking through to the Seventh Layer of Qi Cultivation. He says there are fewer and fewer Qi Cultivation-level monsters with no background left in the mountains and so has gone into seclusion to seek his breakthrough." 𝙛𝒓𝓮𝙚𝔀𝒆𝒃𝓷𝒐𝓿𝙚𝓵.𝙘𝒐𝒎

"Yuanyun has reached an appropriate age, and Xuanling has chosen a girl with an open Spirit Aperture for him. The marriage date is set, and he's gone back to the mountain to cultivate in seclusion. Family affairs remain under my management, but—"

Li Xuanxuan paused, then continued:

"Lijing Mountain is no famed mountain or great vein; the Spiritual Energy is insufficient. Too many Qi Cultivators crowd the mountain, so the Spiritual Energy concentration drops ever lower, which truly impedes cultivation. And this is with Uncle not cultivating on the mountain. If another Foundation Establishment cultivator were added, none of us could cultivate at all."

Li Tongya frowned slightly and asked quietly:

"What of Huaqian Mountain?"

"Donghe and An Zhiyan are cultivating at Huaqian Mountain. Uncle Qiuyang is also there in seclusion to break through. Huaqian Mountain has a Spiritual Spring and can still accommodate two or three more cultivators, but the formation is incomplete, so we haven't sent any of the direct line there yet."

Li Xuanxuan responded respectfully, and Li Tongya sighed softly, saying:

"Our family's strength has grown greatly, but our territory hasn't kept up. The Yu Family is formidable, and their sphere of influence is vast. We're constrained and can't move freely. Yu Jiao and Qinghong are about to reach Qi Cultivation. If we don't suppress the Yu Family and weaken them, things will only get harder in the future."

Li Xuanxuan nodded as well. The family had only just made the Eastern Shanyue their vassal a few years ago, but the Li Family still had not fully absorbed them. To truly swallow Eastern Shanyue, they'd have to open up veins, establish branches, and station Qi Cultivators there.

Meanwhile, the Yu Family was watching like a tiger at the gate. The Li Family had just suffered losses and didn't even dare send their direct line to guard Huaqian Mountain, let alone brazenly establish branches in the new lands. After a careful calculation, Li Xuanxuan answered:

"Eastern Shanyue can provide for three to five stationed cultivators with ease. Huaqian Mountain can support two more. If the Yu Family wasn't suppressing us, our cultivators could easily double and still be provided for."

Li Tongya nodded and waved his hand, saying:

"I am already aware. I will seek audience with the Xiao Family's Perfected Person about this matter."

Li Xuanxuan made his reply in a respectful voice but then suddenly remembered something and smiled, saying:

"Uncle, those few concubine-born sons of mine have now all established themselves and altogether have had three sons and four daughters—the first batch of this generation. It's just that none of them are yet seven years old, so we can't see their Spirit Aperture."

"Oh?"

Li Tongya nodded gently, reminding him:

"If this batch of children is born without a Spirit Aperture, then they'll be the first to drop from being 'great clan' to 'minor clan' children. Be sure to handle this properly and don't let it breed resentment."

According to the rules Li Tongya set all those years ago, even if Li Xuanxuan's concubine sons were born without Spirit Aperture, they'd still count as part of the main line, designated as concubine-born of the direct line. However, if their children lacked Spirit Aperture, they'd be demoted to minor clan.

The gap between the two was enormous—treatment and clan law distinguished them as heaven and earth, not to mention things like children of the minor line not being allowed to take the generational name of the main line, which, while seemingly minor, were of true importance.

"Understood!"

Li Xuanxuan replied, and saw Li Tongya's gentle expression as he continued:

"Once these children are over seven, check their Spirit Aperture and send all of them up the mountain; they must not be raised in private below. You handle the particulars as appropriate."

"Understood!"

After dismissing Li Xuanxuan, Li Tongya did not compete with the juniors for Spiritual Energy for his own cultivation. Instead, he quietly took out a Jade Slip and began to read it carefully.