Family Cultivation: I Become a Mirror-Chapter 252 - 231: Farewell to Ling Yanzi (2)
Li Tongya cupped his hands in respect, praised a few words, making Linggu Li chuckle constantly, then Li Tongya asked again:
"Are there many Noble Families as enduring as yours in the Green Pond Sect?"
"Not many!"
Linggu Li, being from a noble lineage, knew many insider secrets and began to speak in detail:
"Green Pond rose in the north, producing several Zifu Perfected Persons, who united southern powers, merging them into the Thirty-Six Peaks. Thus, the north consists of chaotic small families, while the south is mostly Noble Families, Witch Temples, and Loose Cultivators. These Noble Families are deeply entangled with the Green Pond Sect; they advance and retreat together, standing firm for centuries."
"Oh."
Li Tongya only needed a moment of thought to discern Green Pond Sect's intentions: the south is full of Shanyue tribes and witchcraft, preferring clans over families. Green Pond Sect absorbs these people, yields some authority, and easily controls the entire south.
This trick, the Li Family is playing in Eastern Shanyue too, only just beginning. Shamo Li, although obedient, still harbors other thoughts. Give it a few decades more, let a Li-blooded heir take power, then he'll truly submit. Use the heir's maternal Li Clan relatives to control Eastern Shanyue, and it'll become a tethered land.
Returning to his senses, Li Tongya gave a gentle nod, transmitting his voice with mana:
"If you ever pass by Wangyue Lake, do come rest awhile at Lijing Mountain. We would be most honored."
Linggu Li looked delighted. Though a noble's child, he'd been sent out for decades, lonely and estranged from his home's political center. Now able to befriend a Foundation Establishment Cultivator, he was naturally overjoyed, thanking repeatedly.
Li Tongya picked up his cup and drank quietly, staying silent for over ten breaths. Linggu Li soon grasped the hint, cupped hands, and took his leave. Li Tongya turned back to the other cultivators at his table, who had already argued themselves red-faced, losing dignity. Li Tongya chuckled quietly and set down his cup, instantly startling the crowd into silence. They obediently took their seats, conversing in low voices.
Though conversing with Linggu Li, Li Tongya always kept an eye on the Perfected Persons at the head table. Shangyuan Perfected Person, who wore a sword, merely raised his cup and disappeared from his seat. Xiuyue Sect had sent only him; once Shangyuan left, his seat became desolate.
When Shangyuan Perfected Person departed, all the other Perfected Persons at the head table made a symbolic toast and each departed by their own arts. Only two, apparently Zifu Immortal Clan members, smiled and chatted with Xiao Chuting for a moment, then bid farewell as well. Xiao Chuting vanished, leaving the disciples of the Three Sects and Seven Doors suddenly uninhibited; most left directly, while the rest either chatted loudly or drew swords to spar, making for a lively scene.
Li Tongya paid particular attention to the old child Ling Yanzi, who had not stopped eating since taking his seat, stuffing mouthful after mouthful, lips smacking repeatedly. He didn't converse with anyone beside him, just kept shoveling food until nothing remained on his plate, even licking it clean, and stared yearningly at his neighbor's table.
Beside him sat a Fairy from Ziyan Sect, who brusquely interrupted his actions. Ling Yanzi gave a sheepish smile, had no choice but to sit in silence drinking, looking rather pitiful.
"Ling Yanzi… doesn't seem to be faring well in Ziyan Sect… Looks like his days are bitter indeed."
Li Tongya just shook his head, doubting whether Ling Yanzi could even rustle up a hundred spirit stones from his storage bag.
Li Tongya waited another dozen breaths, finally saw Ling Yanzi couldn't sit still, and rode the wind out of the formation. Li Tongya hurriedly followed, and as soon as they were outside, Ling Yanzi sharply turned his head, white beard flying, and said in a low voice:
"Who dares trail behind me?"
Li Tongya revealed himself with a light laugh, replying:
"Senior Ling Yanzi, it's been many years since we last met. Do you still remember me?"
"You…"
Ling Yanzi's face trembled, uttered a word, then instantly swallowed what he was about to say. Having lived over a hundred years, he thought quickly, realizing Li Tongya didn't wish to leave any trace of past matters, so referred to himself as 'Wan'. Ling Yanzi mentally exclaimed:
"Damn, Li Tongya is absurdly cautious!"
Thinking so, Ling Yanzi wore a wry smile on his face and said:
"Indeed, it's been many years since we last met, Brother Wan…"
"Would senior do me the honor of sharing a drink?"
Li Tongya asked with a warm smile. Ling Yanzi could only nod and force himself to return to the formation with Li Tongya. They found a spot at the end of the table and sat down together. It was only then Ling Yanzi realized with shock and cried out:
"You've reached Foundation Establishment?!"
Li Tongya nodded. Ling Yanzi gasped in amazement, then whispered:
"Congratulations, Brother Wan!"
"Congrats to you too!"
Ling Yanzi was now also a Foundation Establishment Cultivator. Li Tongya offered his congratulations with a squinting smile, then said:
"I've waited ages for news from you, senior."
Ling Yanzi grew very embarrassed, forced a dry laugh, and quietly explained:
"Those spoils I got, I converted them all to spirit stones. But as Foundation Establishment neared, I couldn't hold back and traded everything for spiritual medicine to break through… That debt of saving my life, I've truly defaulted, it's… hard to speak of!"
"Oh."
Li Tongya nodded. He could understand Ling Yanzi's choice; almost no one could resist such a temptation. Were he in Ling Yanzi's shoes, he'd do the same: spend the spirit stones to break through first, then afterward figure out how to replenish them. He spoke gently: 𝒇𝒓𝒆𝒆𝙬𝒆𝒃𝓷𝒐𝓿𝙚𝙡.𝒄𝓸𝒎
"Don't worry, senior. If our places were reversed, I too would choose to break through. It's only human."
Ling Yanzi sighed low, eyes slightly moist, visibly moved, and replied:
"Brother Wan, you're so understanding—Ling Yan admires you…"
He drank a mouthful of wine, then continued:
"These years, I've been pinching pennies—maintaining the costs within my peak, supporting my own cultivation, saving whatever scraps I could. I, I…"
Ling Yanzi took out his dharma sword at his belt, spun it to let the dharma light flow, then set the gleaming sword on the table and said earnestly:
"To this day, I still use a Qi Cultivation Level magical artifact—just to save spirit stones for Brother Wan!"
Li Tongya nodded slightly, showing he understood the sentiment. He felt both wry amusement and bitterness, thinking to himself:
"So this is the Three Sects and Seven Doors. Our Li Clan's Fetal Breathing cultivators use mortal tools; Qi Cultivators can wield Fetal Breathing magical instruments. As the Li Family's sole Foundation Establishment Cultivator, aside from the Green Ruler Sword on my back, I still use Qi Cultivation artifacts—yet to Ling Yanzi, for a Foundation Establishment Cultivator to wield Qi-level artifacts is already bitter hardship!"
Looking at Ling Yanzi's tearful eyes, Li Tongya could sense his grievance. Though hard to fully empathize, he let a suitably touched expression show and said in a deep voice:
"Please don't distress yourself, senior. I can take the spirit stones whenever; no need to make yourself suffer so."
Ling Yanzi nodded feelingly, wiped his old face, and said:
"My Spirit Rock Technique has special needs—I must often drink spiritual wine and consume spiritual objects. Else, at best, my mouth dries and tongue parches, my cultivation stagnates; at worst, I suffer Qi deviation and regress. Without this awkward requirement, I wouldn't need to run about every day!"
"Such a cultivation technique exists!"
Li Tongya paused, secretly marveling. Only the Three Sects and Seven Doors could afford such a technique. Looking at Ling Yanzi's face full of resentment, Li Tongya could now understand why he's so unpopular in Ziyan Sect. He laughed awkwardly and asked:
"For all these years, senior, how many spirit stones have you managed to save?"
At these words, Ling Yanzi bowed his head, suddenly childish for his age, and said sheepishly:
"Twenty spirit stones…"
Li Tongya was speechless for a moment, but didn't want to let him off so easily. Raising his hand, he heartlessly accepted Ling Yanzi's spirit stones, which Ling Yanzi handed over reluctantly, and said quietly:
"How about this, do you have anything else of value to trade for more spirit stones? You wouldn't need to skimp and save every single year, then."
"This…"
Ling Yanzi hesitated, clearly tempted. After considering for a few breaths, he removed his storage bag and dumped out a pile of items with a clatter, replying:
"Aside from my sect's secrets and my peak's legacy treasure, the Purple Smoke Spiritual Veil, Brother Wan can pick freely from what's left!"
