Family Cultivation: I Become a Mirror-Chapter 262 - 240: Roles Reversed
The three of them descended in silence. Xiao Chuchou prodded and shattered the jade pieces with his staff, sweeping aside the fragments. Only the shriveled heart and lungs and splattered brain matter remained as flesh and blood; the rest had turned into luminant jade artifacts, glistening translucently in the dawn's light.
"Alas."
Xiao Chuchou picked up the storage bag and poured out its contents with a clatter, mostly magic artifacts, elixirs, talismans, and the like. Though they had achieved victory, their spirits were subdued as they sat cross-legged amid the pile, carefully picking through the items.
After several breaths, Li Tongya landed from the sky, glanced at the shattered jade on the ground, and was about to offer words of congratulations. Yet, seeing the solemn look on their faces, he wisely kept silent. Then Old Man Nanshan sighed gently and spoke low:
"Yu Yufeng… In his youth he too was spirited and arrogant, dominating all. Who would have thought he'd end up like this—his Immortal Foundation dissolved, body turned to shattered jade scattered upon the earth."
Old Man Nanshan was the eldest, with great experience. When Yu Yuxie first came to Lixia County, he was already a Foundation Establishment Late Stage elder, and had seen Yu Yufeng's youthful days. Hence, a sigh escaped him—for the old are prone to sentimentality. Xiao Chuchou, deeply moved, nodded and said:
"He did forge an Immortal Foundation, and his might was formidable. It's simply a pity he clashed with that Yu Yuxie, and thus his path was cut off. One can't imagine how many years were wasted... The most precious years of cultivation, yet because of those sword wounds in his palms, his progress was ever sluggish."
"But truly, none but himself is to blame."
Old Man Nanshan shook his head, as if transported back to that day many years past, and said softly:
"Yu Yuxie warned time and again—this move was extraordinary, not to be met head-on. Who can he blame? Yu Yuxie cultivated with twin blades, their lights weaving back and forth; it startled even me. But he insisted on catching them barehanded—coming to such an end was because his youthful pride was too great; he brought misfortune on himself."
The two discussed old affairs. Meanwhile, Chen Taojing and Li Tongya listened on the side. Xiao Chuchou picked up several magic artifacts and talismans from the ground, stowing them in the storage bag. He also took a share of the spirit stones, then waved his hand to indicate the others could proceed.
After Chen Taojing and Old Man Nanshan each took their share, Xiao Chuchou addressed Li Tongya:
"Take a few things for yourself."
Li Tongya hurriedly waved his hands in refusal, saying:
"It was I who requested we encircle and kill Yu Yufeng; yet I offered little help, merely watching from the side... How could I take anything from the storage bag?"
Xiao Chuchou shook his head and replied:
"You set up the formation—how could you say you did nothing? Take some."
Li Tongya could only pick up two spirit stones and pocket them. Xiao Chuchou nodded in approval, then with a grand sweep of his sleeve, gathered the rest, and finally cupped his hands and said:
"Brother Tongya, do not disappoint the Ancestor's good intention. Now that the Yu Family is weak, this is the best moment for your noble house to rise. We have fulfilled our promised deeds; what remains is up to your line."
"Naturally! Many thanks to the seniors and the Ancestor for your great favor!"
Old Man Nanshan and Chen Taojing had already tactfully turned away—one to tidy up all traces, the other to retrieve the formation flags—granting the two a moment alone. Xiao Chuchou saw Li Tongya nod gently in acceptance, hesitated for several breaths, then continued:
"The domain upon Wangyue Lake is vast and rich in resources, yet holds no major fire or earth veins, nor any great families devoted to pill or artifact refining."
Xiao Chuchou paused, then said quietly:
"The Ancestor's intention is... There need be no market on Wangyue Lake."
Light dawned in Li Tongya's heart. He understood this was the Xiao Family's condition—indeed, one of the most fundamental reasons for their desire to support a clan on Wangyue Lake.
The Xiao family's various branches and inheritances are complete. Under Xiao Chuting's efforts to edge out competition, the Xiao Family claimed a major share of the magic artifact and elixir markets throughout all of Lixia County and nearby regions. In the past, during Green Pond Sect's rule, three Xiao disciples entered the Green Pond Sect; each year they devoured raw materials and exported large quantities of artifacts and elixirs—most of the profits handed over to Green Pond, though the remainder still made the Xiao Family immensely wealthy.
Now, having left Green Pond, the Xiao Family's position is awkward. With boundaries drawn, Green Pond Sect will not let matters rest as they were. Besides losing regular access to resources, their sales of artifacts and elixirs also suffer greatly.
Xiao Chuting had foreseen all of this. The southern bank of Wangyue Lake borders Da Li Mountain's North Foothills, where families are scarce, but on the north, east, and west banks, cultivators are many and resources abundant—perfect for the Xiao Family's needs.
Li Tongya paused slightly, then cupped his hands and said only:
"I understand. The Yu Family's market—this will be settled within the coming years."
Xiao Chuchou nodded in approval. With that settled, he added:
"Yu Muxian is but a mere Qi Cultivation disciple; with Green Pond Sect in turmoil, no one will come to investigate. Even if someone does, it will not affect you. Yu Yufeng's death will likely be left unprobed—do not fret."
"Yes!"
Li Tongya answered briefly. The two rose upon the wind, and only when the other two finished their tasks and joined them did Xiao Chuting smile and say:
"All is concluded here, Brother Tongya, rest easy and take your leave!"
Li Tongya bowed in return. As the three Xiao family members rode the wind into the distance, only then did he turn, heading toward Lijing Mountain, his heart both relieved and elated, murmuring to himself:
"At last, I've removed a great mountain from above my head..."
The forest slipped rapidly by beneath his feet. After flying a while, Li Tongya's cautious and suspicious nature began to stir doubt. He murmured:
"Why did Xiao Chuchou bring up the Perfected Person's Divine Skills to me? It was he who started that topic—almost as if to say something... Is it a warning? A gesture of goodwill? Or something else in mind?"
Li Tongya's brow arched, and beneath his wide robes, his hand turned, revealing two glowing, sparkling spirit stones—the very two that Xiao Chuchou had insisted he take earlier.
Outwardly, Li Tongya had put them away, yet all the while he kept them hidden in his sleeve, deliberately never touching them directly, instead holding them with mana. Now, with a slight shake of his head and a flick of his fingers, those two spirit stones shot out in succession, piercing the trees below and vanishing from sight.
Li Tongya considered for a moment more, then found it amusing and said softly:
"The old are ever overthinking."
Lijing Mountain appeared in the distance. Li Tongya gradually slowed, landing within the formation, his spiritual sense sweeping high and low. A grand voice resounded in the mind of every direct descendant of the Li Family.
"Yu Yufeng is dead. Rest for three hours—then immediately set out for Huazhong Mountain!"
As his words fell, the stone gate of the cave mansion behind him swung open. A youth bearing a golden longbow paced out, eyes sharp and features resolute. Though a slight smile graced his lips, his brows arched high, and a trace of gritted teeth could be heard in his tone. He laughed in satisfaction and declared aloud:
"At last, I can vent my spleen!"
Li Tongya shook his head with a rueful smile, gazing towards the distant Secret Forest County. The morning sun was rising between heaven and earth, slanting through the forests. In Li Tongya's heart surged a wave of delight and heroism, and he whispered:
"Yu Xiaogui, the tides of battle have turned!"
