Family Cultivation: I Become a Mirror-Chapter 155 - 146 Ding Xiding

As the day faintly brightened, the trees amidst the mountains had shed their leaves, now glistening with the luminous frost of morning. Li Tongya returned to Lijing Mountain, the extraordinary regenerative abilities granted by the Deep Sea Long Whale Script allowing him to fully recover his True Yuan with each breath.

After recentering his qi, Li Tongya closed his eyes to sense his progress. A year had passed since his breakthrough to the Sixth Layer of Qi Cultivating, but his cultivation level had only improved marginally, with little progress now.

"The final three layers of Qi Cultivating Late Stage emphasize accumulation. It’s not something that can be broken through in a short time. I’m afraid it may take another five or six years."

As he pondered this, the formation patterns on the array of the sun’s polar light suddenly shone brightly. Li Tongya’s expression turned serious as a loud voice came from outside the formation.

"Ding Xiding from the Mushroom Forest Plain’s Ding Family has come to visit. I kindly request Brother Tongya to show himself!"

Li Tongya’s eyebrows raised as he looked outside the formation where a robust old man with thick eyebrows stood. In his hand, he carried a staff, examining the sun’s polar light array below. Observing his cultivation level, the old man was a cultivator at the Qi Cultivating Peak.

"To counterbalance the Yu Family and my own Li Family, the An Family has enticed the Noble Families of Mushroom Forest Plain to join them, taking over Tiaoyun Mountain. And here is the Ding Family, quite courteous, coming to visit as soon as they took charge of Tiaoyun Mountain."

With a thought, Li Tongya’s spiritual sense slightly opened the Great Formation. He clasped his hands together and said with utmost politeness:

"Li Tongya of the Lijing Li Family, I have the honor to meet my elder!"

"Ah! I dare not claim such respect."

Ding Xiding waved his hand and stepped onto Lijing Mountain, looking at Li Tongya before exclaiming with admiration:

"I have long heard of the great name of the Qing Sui Sword Immortal. This mountain indeed has the fortune to nurture such a Sword Immortal!"

Ding Xiding was also clever, understanding that it would be too hypocritical to praise Lijing Mountain as an Immortal Mountain and Blessed Land. He switched to a different compliment, bowing his head and saying:

"Congratulations to Brother Tongya for expanding to the east and acquiring an Immortal Mountain, moving beyond the perilous corners of these mountains."

Li Tongya chuckled softly and replied:

"The Ding Family has also gained new territory, congratulations, congratulations! Please, let’s talk inside!"

Both families had just finished dividing the Lu Family’s territory. The Li Family was related to the Lu Family through marriage and had left a lifeline on Huaqian Mountain, yet the people of the Lu Family at the foot of Tiaoyun Mountain, regardless of whether they were legitimate or illegitimate, close or distant kin, were all slaughtered by the Ding Family, the blades of their soldiers still stained with blood.

Once Ding Xiding entered the courtyard, he laughed heartily, thinking to forge a relationship as he responded:

"Brother Tongya might not be aware, my Ding Family has been in-laws and friends with the Yuan Family for generations, and one of their daughters is practicing her cultivation on Qing Sui Peak—by seniority, she is actually your senior sister, revered Sword Immortal."

"So there is such a connection!"

Li Tongya cooperated with his words but inwardly scoffed, thinking:

"What use is a generational marriage alliance and friendship? Aren’t the An and Lu Families also friends and in-laws for generations? Right after Lu Sisi’s death, they occupied Tiaoyun Mountain, and now they’re mercilessly wielding the butcher’s knife, disregarding past relationships. Better to have some interest entanglement than these so-called ties of marriage and friendship."

Ding Xiding nodded slightly, feeling helpless inside. It had been over two hundred years since his Ding Family last experienced any territorial changes. The Yuan Family treated the Ding Family like a guard dog overseeing the Mushroom Forest Plain gateway. Now, fortunately escaping the predicament with a newly acquired mountain, they found themselves facing the Sword Immortal’s family and a Foundation Establishment Noble Family, a truly uncomfortable predicament.

Li Tongya, on the other hand, grimaced wryly, adding:

"Elder, since you have taken over this mountain from Mushroom Forest Plain, you must report to the Yu Family and even present some gifts at Secret Forest County. Otherwise, you’ll become a target."

The color drained from Ding Xiding’s face as he set down his teacup, saying in a shaken voice:

"There’s such a practice! The Yu Family is so domineering?"

"The Yu Family’s domain is vast. With early-stage Foundation Establishment Yu Xiaogui and late-stage Foundation Establishment Yu Yufeng, known as White Jade Hand, they are no ordinary adversaries. The younger generation is equally talented, and the lake has long been under their control!"

Li Tongya vented his frustrations, appearing deeply aggrieved which greatly startled Ding Xiding, who said repeatedly:

"Even the Li Family, renowned for its Sword Immortal, is oppressed by them?"

"Although my Li Family tries to stay out of it, we can’t help but feel chilled to the bone!"

Li Tongya also set down his teacup and said in a low voice,

"Elder, if you had such a family by your side, how could you not consider the future generations? The Yu Family’s edge is too sharp!"

Ding Xiding felt the reasoning was sound and nodded repeatedly, thinking to himself with gritted teeth,

"I had some doubts about what the An Family said, but I never expected the Li Family also feared the Yu Family to some extent. It seems if I want to carve out my own achievements by the lake, I’ll need to stir up trouble within the Yu Family!"

As Ding Xiding was beginning to think about how to contact some Foundation Establishment Cultivator friends and seek external support from the Yuan Family to strike at the Yu Family, Li Tongya saw him deep in thought and smiled slightly, not wishing to disturb him. After a good several dozen breaths, Ding Xiding came back to himself and apologized,

"I was lost in thought, please forgive me, Brother Tongya!"

"No trouble at all." 𝐟𝐫𝕖𝗲𝘄𝚎𝗯𝕟𝐨𝕧𝐞𝚕.𝕔𝕠𝐦

After chatting for a few more words, Ding Xiding took his leave. Li Tongya watched him go and then sat down in the main seat again, looking at the map of Wangyue Lake on the table. He touched the corner where Huaqian Mountain was located and murmured,

"Securing this land, the Li Family can enjoy thirty more years of peaceful development. Let them fight among themselves for now..."

With a slight smile after finishing his words, he saw the courtyard door gently open, and Li Xuanling walked in briskly, respectfully approached him, and greeted with a bow,

"Father."

"How is it?"

Li Tongya’s gaze remained on the map as he asked in a soft voice.

"It’s about the... Talisman Seed!"

Li Xuanling softly repeated his earlier thoughts. When he mentioned sibling rivalry, Li Xuanling clearly saw his father, Li Tongya, pause slightly. It took more than a dozen breaths before Li Tongya finally nodded and said solemnly,

"What you’re considering is important and must be handled with caution."

After looking up for a moment, Li Tongya spoke approvingly,

"You’ve seen clearly on this matter, well done! But your approach is still not enough. Have you thought of a method?"

Li Xuanling pondered for a few breaths and then answered,

"In your son’s opinion, the best method would be to divide the Talisman Seeds according to the four branches, allowing each to obtain one. Sadly, there are not enough Talisman Seeds. We can only choose the best among them to receive the Talisman Seeds, and when the eldest sons and the Spiritual Aperture Seeds come of age, we can compare and select the owners for the remaining two Talisman Seeds..."

After hearing Li Xuanling’s words, Li Tongya shook his head slightly and said,

"You are still young and your vision for the future is not far-reaching enough. Even if there were enough Talisman Seeds for generations, you cannot simply divide them among the four branches. This will eventually drive the branches apart, creating barriers and even causing the main branch to oppress the others in order to snatch the Talisman Seeds."

"The household fears having divisions that are too clear. It’s essential to blend the branches and choose a Qilin child from each generation to bestow with a Talisman Seed, and only grant one per generation. If you give away both, where will you find another Talisman Seed twenty years later when a prodigious talent appears among the Xi Yue generation?"

After a brief wave of his hand, Li Xuanling promptly nodded and respectfully said,

"I have learned my lesson!"

Li Xuanling thought for a few breaths, then with renewed confusion, he said,

"But then how do we determine who the Qilin child is?"

Li Tongya heard this and smiled faintly, speaking softly,

"Isn’t that simple? Everyone’s eyes are covered, their senses closed off. They all kneel before the Dharma Mirror, and we’ll see to whom the Talisman Seed is granted. Whomever it is, they are the Qilin child!"

ps: (I’ve posted the new map in the comments section for anyone who wants a more intuitive look!)