"Once a breakthrough to Foundation Establishnt is achieved at ho, these two lads should also begin their Qi Cultivation, and we can even find a Foundation Establishnt demon beast to bestow Talisman Seeds upon these children."
...
The ritual was held on both the top and bottom of the mountain. mbers of the Li family who had received the Talisman Seed were on the mountaintop, while at the bottom, Li Xihong, the eldest brother of the Xiyue generation, was in charge, leading a group of Xiyue generation youths to make the event lively and bustling.
Li Yuanping handled affairs without a single leak, and since Li Xihong had not received a Talisman Seed, his situation was quite awkward. By handling things this way, he would not feel left out and it would also give the Xiyue generation a chance to show their faces, killing two birds with one stone.
Feeling the heavy responsibility upon him, Li Xihong had been under a lot of pressure and had begun preparing half a year earlier. Now that the ritual had been completed in full without any issues, he breathed a sigh of relief, his back drenched with sweat.
After stepping down from the ritual platform, he changed his clothes and was quickly inford that Li Yuanjiao wanted to see him.
Li Xihong did not dare to delay and hurried to the mountain. Upon entering the hall, he saw a young man dressed in a black robe sitting above in the Central Hall, his eyebrows tightly furrowed as if he had so worries on his mind.
"Since the death of our great ancestor, Uncle Zhong's smile has beco rarer and rarer..."
Unaware of the changes within himself, Li Yuanjiao didn't realize it. However, Li Xihong, being the eldest brother of the Xiyue generation and more than a decade older than his brothers, had many mories of what Li Yuanjiao looked like when he was younger.
Being naturally kind-hearted, he felt moved at that mont and knelt down, saying,
"Xihong pays respects to Cousin! Congratulations on the great progress in your Immortal Law."
According to family laws, Li Yuanjiao was not his direct uncle but a cousin once removed. However, mbers of the Li family's direct lineage on the mountain never made such distant distinctions between relatives, and privately, he was regarded as Uncle Zhong. Now that it was a formal visit, he addressed him as such.
Li Xihong was touched, but the chief, Li Yuanjiao, also felt a certain regret and was at a loss,
"Back then, when Talisman Seeds were distributed, this child did not receive one, and I had no choice but to send him down the mountain. Now I have to take his share of nature's spiritual energy because of brotherly affection... Alas!"
Although Li Yuanjiao felt guilty, he was a decisive man and spoke without hesitation in a warm voice,
"Xihong has now broken through to the Fifth Layer of Fetal Breathing; it seems you have put in considerable effort into your cultivation."
"Your son dares not to be slack."
Li Xihong humbly responded, and after a few words of conversation, Li Yuanjiao directly said,
"Donghe has collected the 'Golden Sun Radiant Origin' in the west. Calculating the ti, it will be delivered in a year or two. This item is extrely difficult to gather, and the family has put all its efforts into collecting it, acquiring only one portion in these seven years…"
"Such a scarce item, I'm afraid, cannot be shared by everyone in the four branches; the Zhong branch will only receive one portion…"
Li Xihong was montarily stunned and showed an anxious look, quickly saying,
"Xijun is also at the Fourth Layer of Fetal Breathing now! Uncle Zhong, please leave this share of nature's spiritual energy for him! Your son is obtuse and fears wasting this superior spiritual energy; I dare not make my brother wait another seven years."
Li Yuanjiao had more to say, but he was taken aback by his words, falling silent and straightening up, revealing a hint of dangerous suspicion.
"Hmm?"
Having managed family affairs and led troops, and having dealt with Shanyue and nobility, Li Yuanjiao was accustod to cunning and deceit. Hearing these words, he felt that the apparent honesty might be false and his expression changed drastically. Narrowing his eyes slightly, he stared intently at Li Xihong.
But in this young man's eyes, there was clarity, nothing but sincerity. His appearance was not outstanding and his eyes lacked any imposing deanor, straightforward and full of trust.
"You..."
Li Yuanjiao ended up avoiding him, his heart stirring, and nodded silently,
"If you can really think this way, that's good. You may leave now."
Li Xihong bowed deeply, ready to take his leave, but Li Yuanjiao was now amused and laughed,
"Alas! You... are indeed a good brother! Xijun is lucky to have a brother like you!"
Li Xihong stopped in his tracks, shook his head slightly, and for the first ti, contradicted Li Yuanjiao, replying warmly as he bowed,
"Back to you, Uncle Zhong, Xihong is the eldest legitimate son of the clan. Whether it's Xijun, Ximing, or Xizhi who cultivates in the Immortal Sect, they are all my brothers. As long as my brothers are united and harmonious, Xihong will not harbor any ulterior thoughts."
"Coveting, envying, fighting for power, or seizing profits are not things Xihong would do, nor is there any interest in doing them."
Carrying his weapon on his back, his robes fluttering, his gaze firm and bright, the twenty-sothing young man was at the peak of his vigor. What was usually a plain, even overly honest face was now set off with a bit of heroism.
"Good!"
Li Yuanjiao clapped in admiration, his gloomy mood dissipated quite a bit, and he laughed heartily before motioning him over. He took out a Jade Bottle from his sleeve and spoke seriously,
"This is a secret Barrier-Breaking Pill passed down in our clan. Take it and consu it to break through the Sixth Layer of Fetal Breathing; strive to break through Qi Refinent before you turn thirty, as it will be trendously beneficial."
"This pill has an astonishing effect, being a treasured elixir passed down from our ancestors; it must not be shared with outsiders at any cost."
"Yes!"
Li Xihong's face lit up with joy as he received it, taking the oath of the Xuanjing Spirit Oath with utmost respect and quietly waited for further instructions.
Li Yuanjiao waved his hand, smiling as he said,
"Go on, find a Cave Mansion to properly undergo seclusion and break through."
Li Xihong nodded and withdrew. Only then did Li Yuanjiao take out so Elixirs and Spiritual Objects from his Storage Bag, laying them on the desk. He then took up brush and ink to write a short letter to Li Yuanping.
'Xihong can be the pillar of the Clan, affectionate to both his seniors and juniors. Great-uncle lived frugally during his lifeti, and the central lineage has suffered hardships. Provisions and Spiritual Objects—all shall be taken from my Wutu Peak.'
After putting away the brush and ink, the smile on Li Yuanjiao's face gradually faded, and he stared into the void, as if piercing through layers of mist to see a visage, bright with a cheerful smile and a majestic bearing.
'The brothers are well united, joyous and nurturing,'
'Brother... brother...'
...
Atop Lijing Mountain.
Li Ximing hadn't returned ho for two years. After discussing the family affairs with his father Li Yuanping for an entire night, he first visited his mother and then Madam Dou.
Madam Dou was the wife of Li Xuanxuan and mother to Li Yuanping, also a rare female Qi Cultivator within the Clan, highly skilled in her thods.
Xi Ming's great-aunt had always adored him the most since he was a child and was now a Qi Cultivator herself. The mont they t, she stuffed Elixirs and Spiritual Objects into his hands, saying,
"Great-aunt's possessions from her maiden family, boldly utilize them without having any reservations!"
Li Ximing gave a wry smile, accepting them. After dealing with the family matters for a few days, he finally had so ti to himself. Sitting on the stone steps of the small courtyard where the moonlight shone down, he took out his dicine Pouch and began to carefully organize it.
Xiao Yuansi had prepared this thod of gathering herbs for him, and after diligently studying, Li Ximing had now achieved so success. At the very least, Fetal Breathing Spiritual Objects and most of the Qi Cultivation Spiritual Objects could be easily collected without damaging their dicinal properties.
'Xihong has also invited to Eastern Shanyue, perhaps he has prepared so Spiritual Objects; elder brother always puts others before himself...'
As he was thinking, a cold hand suddenly patted his shoulder. Given that Li Ximing was in his family's Great Formation, he was naturally unguarded. With a smile brimming in his eyes, he looked up to see a face with sword-like eyebrows and starry eyes, filled with imposing elegance.
"Xijun!"
Li Xijun usually wore a stern expression, a man of few words and cautious actions. Now, seeing his brother whom he hadn't t in years, a smile finally graced his features. He leaned in, sniffed, and said softly,
"Such a strong scent of herbs."
Li Ximing answered with a gentle, warm smile,
"Xiao Master's thod of gathering herbs is just like this, with a particularly strong scent that can awaken the mind, clear the vision, and calm the heart."
"You've grown much milder in temperant."
Li Xijun stood there with his hands behind his back. Among the three brothers of the Xiyue generation, he most embodied the essence of the Li Family mbers: Li Xihong was magnanimous, Li Xizhi was dignified, and Li Ximing was gentle, but Xijun alone was guarded, and never without his sword.
Li Ximing replied with a smile,
"I heard that you practice diligently in Jade Court Mountain every day, what brought you back ho so suddenly?"
"Uncle sent for ."
Li Xijun suddenly looked sulky and said in a muffled voice,
"I don't understand why Uncle Yuanjiao suddenly summoned to the mountain, talking about how the elder brother loves dearly and should not be let down. He also said I have a better talent and should protect my brother more. "
His dark gray eyes shifted slightly, looking exceptionally handso in the moonlight, he said doubtfully,
"Isn't this blaming ... My brother has such a temperant, how could there be any issues amongst us siblings? Could soone have slandered ?"
"Yuanjiao Uncle lost a brother when he was young; perhaps he's reminded of his past, afraid of history repeating itself,"
Li Ximing said casually, lowering his voice,
"I've heard that whenever the Pear Garden performs that segnt, it brings tears to everyone's eyes, with the youth silently mourning and the old n weeping."
After a long silence, Li Xijun, who had been holding his sword, seed to have been holding back for a long ti, and said softly,
"Xihong is slowly taking over the family matters, and several brothers of different mothers have established their own families. With our Qi Cultivation imminent and second uncle near to the Foundation Establishnt, our Clan will soon be in our hands."
He tilted his head slightly, his Green Peak sword radiating a cold light as he smiled and said,
"In my opinion, elder brother will seek refinent in fla and Elixir, while I will find my way on snow and blade, with the Clan under our care, there should be nothing to fear."
Li Ximing laughed heartily and responded,
"Good."
The two brothers fetched so Spiritual Wine and talked through the night, under the moon's glow, from Green Pond to South River and North River, until the golden sun rose and the world was bathed in red. Only then did they swayingly fall asleep with their heads on the table.
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