Family Cultivation: I Become a Mirror-Chapter 125 - 116 Visiting Xiao Yongling
Li Xuanfeng flew leisurely along the ancient Lidao all through the night and finally arrived at Guanyun Peak, where the Xiao Family's Guanyun Peak was shrouded in clouds and mist. The pale white fog tightly concealed the trees and passersby.
Li Xuanfeng lowered his altitude, and as soon as he approached the space between the mountains, a repelling force came from below, and someone shouted:
"Brother! You must not ride the winds on Guanyun Peak!"
Li Xuanfeng quickly landed at the foot of the mountain and saw a young man, about seventeen or eighteen years old, smiling at him. The youth, dressed in a flowing long robe, appeared ethereal and detached, with outstanding features. He clasped his fists and asked:
"May I ask which son of the Western families you are?"
"I dare not claim to be."
Li Xuanfeng waved his hands dismissively, seeing the person so courteous, and replied:
"I'm Li Xuanfeng from the Lijing Li Family! Here to pay the tribute."
"Lijing Li Family?"
The young man raised his eyebrows and inquired:
"Could it be the Li Family by Wangyue Lake? I am Xiao Ruyu of the Xiao Family; pleased to meet the guest!"
"Indeed!"
Li Xuanfeng remembered the instructions from Li Tongya before he left and hastily nodded, then saw Xiao Ruyu ask in confusion:
"I wonder how is Elder Li Tongya..."
"He is my clan uncle!"
Li Xuanfeng laughed heartily and politely continued:
"Upon my Uncle's orders, I came to visit Elder Xiao Yongling!"
Xiao Ruyu suddenly understood and nodded with a smile:
"I, too, have been commanded by Uncle Yongling to wait here for someone from the Li Family! Brother Xuanfeng, please follow me."
After speaking, he stepped down the stairs and, flashing a smile at Li Xuanfeng, he soared into the sky, revealing he also had Qi Cultivation Level, and the two of them rode the wind for a while before landing on another mountain peak.
Atop the mountain, there was a small courtyard with two potted plum blossoms at the door. Xiao Ruyu stepped forward and knocked softly, announcing respectfully:
"Uncle! The Li Family representative has arrived!"
The door immediately creaked open, and a hearty laughter approached from afar as a middle-aged man emerged, his eyes slightly elongated, a snow-white fox fur draped over his shoulders, and a brocade pouch tied around his waist. He was still handsome and, seeing the two guests, he paused and asked:
"You are...?"
"I am Li Xuanfeng of the Li Family. My father has been tied up with urgent matters these days and has sent me to pay a visit in his stead."
After Li Xuanfeng explained, Xiao Yongling nodded and expressed some regret:
"It's a pity not to see Brother Tongya. I've been quite concerned."
After speaking, he looked at Li Xuanfeng curiously and asked:
"I wonder what Cultivation Level Brother Tongya has reached now?"
"My father has reached the Third Layer of Qi Cultivation."
Li Xuanfeng answered according to Li Tongya's instructions.
"Third Layer of Qi Cultivation?"
Xiao Yongling was momentarily stunned, then clicked his tongue in admiration and said with a sigh:
"Brother Tongya has not lagged behind after all, already at the Third Layer of Qi Cultivation. When I first met him, I felt he was extraordinary, and indeed he is!"
Taking Li Xuanfeng into the courtyard, Xiao Yongling filled the two cups in front of them with tea, looked at Li Xuanfeng, and said with a beaming smile:
"Now the younger generation is also outstanding. I see you are only fifteen or sixteen years old, yet you have already succeeded in Qi Cultivation, which is truly commendable. Even in my Xiao Family, you would be among the best."
"You flatter me, Elder."
Li Xuanfeng chatted with Xiao Yongling for a bit, exchanging some pleasantries, before he inquired:
"Our family's Great Formation was broken by the Shanyue, and it has not yet been repaired. My family instructed me to find an Array Master in the county to set up the Great Formation. I wonder if the Elder might have some information..."
"Of course, there is."
Xiao Yongling nodded, answering:
"There's a lot to be said for this Formation. Setting up a Qi Cultivation Level Formation is quite troublesome, requiring not only the engraving of Formation Patterns but also drawing outlines. It cannot be completed without several days and nights of continuous work."
"If one wishes to set up a Qi Cultivation Level Array, at least thirty spirit stones are required as a starting point. However, for the outstanding ones among the Qi Cultivation Great Formations that can withstand a cultivator at the Qi Cultivating Peak, I'm afraid it can't be done without at least a hundred spirit stones."
Li Xuanfeng nodded upon hearing this and replied,
"The family has considered it, and the spirit stones have already been prepared."
"That's good."
Xiao Yongling sipped his tea, pondered for a few moments, and then said solemnly,
"In the next few days, I will make some contacts. I will give you a response in a few days, anyway, there's still over half a month until the tribute deadline, so there's enough time."
"Thank you, senior!"
Li Xuanfeng nodded repeatedly, his joy apparent on his face, only to see Xiao Yongling shake his head and say with a smile,
"What's there to thank me for? Our two families need not be so formal! Your uncle by marriage and my family's elder are fellow sect brothers, and you have also obtained the Suiyu Origin Pill for my family. With decades of good relations between our families, this little matter is nothing."
Li Xuanfeng exchanged some pleasantries, drank some tea and listened to Xiao Yongling talk about other matters, then he inquired,
"Senior, have you heard... can mining for metals and minerals affect mortals in any way?"
"Of course, it can!"
Xiao Yongling paused, then explained,
"My family oversees twenty-two mining veins, and I've managed them before, so I'm quite familiar with them."
"Metals, Thunderbolt, flames, and chilling Yin-type Spiritual Objects often harm the vitality of mortals; the death and injury rates are especially high. If it's at the Fetal Breathing Level, it's manageable with frequent shifts of workers. However, for Spiritual Objects at the Qi Cultivation and even Foundation Establishment levels, contact means instant death, and cultivators must mine them personally."
"So that's how it is! I've learned something new."
Li Xuanfeng nodded as if he had just realized something and thanked Xiao Yongling respectfully. Then, Xiao Yongling took out a jade slip, and with a serious tone, said,
"Brother Tongya once entrusted me to find a book for him, and I've finally found it. I'll hand it over to you now to take back to the Li Family when you return home."
Li Xuanfeng hesitated for a moment as he received the jade slip, pondering to himself,
"I've never heard my second uncle mention anything about looking for a book... If there really was such a matter, how could he have forgotten to tell me? Perhaps the Xiao Family has other intentions."
"Thank you, Senior Yongling!"
Xiao Yongling waved his hand dismissively. Li Xuanfeng then asked about any news of Li Chijin, but Xiao Yongling shook his head and said,
"Not a single piece of news. Even our family elder went south many years ago and hasn't sent a single letter home—quite strange indeed."
Li Xuanfeng felt somewhat uneasy, but Xiao Yongling kindly suggested,
"The scenery in the county is very different from the west. With over half a month left before the tribute is due, you might as well go and see for yourself."
Li Xuanfeng understood that this was a cue for him to leave and, bowing his head, excused himself. Once outside the yard, he probed the jade slip with his Spiritual Sense and saw its title, eight large characters.
"Two Hundred Years of Scenery in Linghai County"
At a loss, he could only store the jade slip away for now, bid Xiao Ruyu farewell, and continued to travel eastward on the wind.
As Li Xuanfeng left the yard, Xiao Yongling quietly put away the teapot and lamented,
"Qi Cultivation at fifteen years old, the Li Family indeed has the knack for nurturing."
"It was the elder's perceptive decision."
Xiao Ruyu flattered, only to see Xiao Yongling shake his head and say solemnly,
"It was our ancestor who personally summoned Li Tongya and gave him elixirs. It was he who ordered me to befriend Li Tongya and maintain good relations with the Li Family."
"The ancestor's foresight is insurmountable by the likes of us. Now, moreover..."
He cut off suddenly, chuckled lowly, and murmured to himself,
"With the ancestor and Uncle Yuansi backing us up, our family will enjoy peace for eight hundred years."
Exchanging a knowing glance with Xiao Ruyu, both their eyes twinkled with amusement. Xiao Yongling sighed, his expression a mix of emotions, and said in a low voice,
"Only someone like the ancestor would be able to break free from the layers of restrictions enforced by the Green Pond Sect, to be cautious and composed, to ensure the preservation of our family estates. Yu Yuxie was once so glorious, his talents alarmed the elders of Zifu, yet he met his end in the Southern Border."
He then looked at Xiao Ruyu and said with emphasis,
"Ruyu, this is why the ancestor wants you to refine your cultivation and forbids you from advancing within five years."
"In this world, it's often the most talented and the most foolish who meet the most tragic ends."
