Family Cultivation: I Become a Mirror-Chapter 50 Elixir
"So, youโre from the Li Family of Lijing? The one near Wangyue Lake?"
Ning Wanโs rosy lips parted, and the various individuals seated below immediately showed a range of expressions, whispering amongst themselves:
"How come weโve never heard of this Lijing Li Family that warrants the envoyโs personal inquiry?"
"Who knows..." ๐ป๐โฏโฏ๐ค๐๐๐๐ฐ๐๐๐.๐ธ๐๐ฎ
Xiao Chuting also looked down, nodding at Li Tongya and smiling as he watched him.
Li Tongya was initially startled, lifting his head slightly and catching a glimpse of the delicate white skin beneath Ning Wanโs veil and her clear, smooth jawline, he answered evenly:
"To answer the envoy, I am Li Tongya of the Li Family; our Lijing Mountain is indeed located by Wangyue Lake."
"What relation is Li Chijin to you?"
Upon hearing this, Li Tongyaโs eyes brightened, his heart settled, knowing that Li Chijin must have given notice within the sect. He replied with utmost respect:
"He is indeed my younger brother."
Ning Wan pursed her lips, raised her left hand, and a small brocaded pouch flew out, gently landing in the hands of Li Tongya, she said softly:
"This is from your brother."
"Thank you, Fairy!"
Li Tongya hurriedly received it, noticing the surprised looks from those around him, he couldnโt help but smile wryly.
Being a person who preferred not to attract attention, he inadvertently became the center of everyoneโs focus, feeling as if thorns lined his back, he quickly expressed his gratitude.
Ning Wan nodded towards him, speaking softly to Xiao Chuting beside her. The two shared a laugh, and afterwards, everyone below had presented their tributes.
"To report to the Immortal Master, all thirty-four families of Li Xia County are accounted for!"
The servant below had checked everything and reported loudly to Ning Wan with great respect.
"Good."
Ning Wan nodded and then said to Xiao Chuting:
"I still have pressing matters to attend to. Now that the tributes have been collected, I shall not stay any longer."
"Envoy, safe travels."
Xiao Chuting gave a bow and watched with a smile as Ning Wan boarded the flying vessel.
Watching the Rosy Cloud Boat slowly ascend and disappear into the horizon to the east, Xiao Chuting finally turned to address the crowd below, speaking indifferently:
"Everyone here is an old acquaintance. Those loose cultivators are already at the base of the mountain, and the marketplace has been open for a few days; you may all proceed there for trading."
"Letโs stick to the usual rules. This Guanyun Market belongs to the Xiao Family. I ask you all to honor that. If anyone dares to steal or force a transaction in this market, they would be breaking the rules of my familyโs establishment."
"Yes."
All below echoed in agreement, heading down the mountain, with some approaching Li Tongya, eager to strike up a conversation. Wan Yuankai looked at him enviously, wanting to speak but hearing Xiao Chuting cough lightly and saying with a laugh:
"Young friend Tongya, would you care to have a talk with this old man?"
The surrounding people immediately halted; Wan Yuankai hastily closed his mouth as Li Tongya quickly responded:
"Esteemed elder, you honor me greatly. To have a conversation with a great cultivator like yourself is a privilege for someone of my junior standing!"
Xiao Chuting chuckled heartily, leading Li Tongya into the main court and sitting beside a green stone table. Naturally, an attendant presented them with fresh tea. Xiao Chuting took a light sip and said softly:
"I donโt often come to this Cloud Peak, so the reception may be a bit humble. Please, donโt take offense, young friend."
Li Tongya took the tea cup and lightly sipped, instantly feeling a wave of sweetness rise from the tip of his tongue, his mind clearing instantly. Barely suppressing the urge to finish it in one gulp, he shook his head and swiftly voiced his polite dissent.
"My grandson has been cultivating on Qing Sui Peak with your brother for several years, and has indeed spoken with me a few times as well,"
Xiao Chuting said with a smile, and then continued:
"Your brother is exceptionally talented in swordsmanship," said Peak Master Si Yuanbai, who has called him the best in hundreds of years on Qing Sui Peak, and he cherishes him dearly."
Li Tongya, born into a peasant family, was accustomed to using tea bowls, and thus felt awkward holding the small teacup. Startled by this remark, he answered with a hint of pleasant surprise:
"Jingโer hasnโt mentioned this to the family..."
"Your brother is a good kid, have you looked inside that brocade pouch?"
Xiao Chuting gazed at Li Tongya, a touch of nostalgia fleeting across his eyes as if reminiscing about something distant, and smiled as he said:
"Inside it are five Spirit Stones, his allotted provisions for five years. The Spirit Rice and Elixirs he probably consumed himself, but he saved all these Spirit Stones."
Li Tongya was suddenly taken aback and murmured with a tinge of heartache:
"My Li Family has let this child suffer."
"Ah, donโt think like that, it is a matter of shared pride and shared difficulties."
Xiao Chuting waved his hand and gently stroked the tabletop, whereupon a small white jade bottle suddenly appeared. He spoke again:
"I see youโre still in the Fetal Breathing Realm; here is a Bright Divine Powder. Use it to break through to Yujing."
Li Tongya, taken by surprise, quickly got up and waved his hands:
"Senior! I couldnโt possibly accept this."
"Take the Elixir and be off, and stop your clamor. Not having a single Yujing Wheel at home, youโre losing face for Qing Sui Peak."
Xiao Chuting spoke indifferently, frowning as he got up and walked towards the back courtyard, leaving only two words behind:
"Send off!"
โโโโ
At the foot of Guanyun Peak, Li Tongya clutched the Elixir tightly in his arms with a wry smile, turned towards Wan Yuankai, whose face showed complexity, and said:
"Brother Yuankai, Iโm not sure about this market..."
"Oh."
Wan Yuankai, as if awakened from a trance, pointed towards the path ahead and explained:
"Just follow this road, and youโll reach the market. Thereโs an Illusion Array around it that wards off ordinary people, so donโt wander off."
As they walked, the scenery suddenly opened up. What had been a deserted mountain path was now a bustling gathering place, teeming with people and unending chatter.
"Brother Tongya, my family has given me a task, so letโs part ways here. Letโs meet later at the foot of the mountain and take the carriage back together."
Wan Yuankai bowed, smiled at Li Tongya, and quickly left towards the east.
Watching Wan Yuankai disappear into the distance, Li Tongya shook his head and looked over at a small stall by the road. The stall owner was absorbed in reading a book, with a troubled expression on his face. The stall was laid out with a few Talismans, some nameless Spiritual Objects, and several small flags.
"Are these Formation Flags?"
Li Tongya eyed the greyish-white little flags with caution, careful not to touch them, and inquired aloud.
"Yes, the banners are made of the skin of Yujing Wheel beasts, and the flagpoles are made from white jade wood. They only cost eight Spirit Stones."
Li Tongya couldnโt help but think of the six flags that Xiao Yuansi had sold to his family, and he asked:
"I heard thereโs a type of Formation Flag with fish skin from a white-striped carp and poles made of red birchwood... Do you know how much they cost?"
The stall owner immediately looked astounded and, his gaze warming considerably towards Li Tongya, spoke with increased respect:
"Esteemed senior, red birchwood is fine, but the white-striped carpโs skin is material for the Qi Cultivation Stage. Please take these Magic Artifacts to the shop in the east for sale; these small stalls here only serve the Fetal Breathing Realm."
"I see," Li Tongya said, coming to a realization, and thought to himself:
"It seems Xiao Yuansi gave my family a fair price; eight Spirit Stones for a Fetal Breathing Realm Formation Flag means that flag is hardly expensive for twelve Spirit Stones."
