Family Cultivation: I Become a Mirror-Chapter 159 - 150: Ling Yanzi
Chen Donghe expressed his gratitude to Li Tongya, and was taken away by Li Xuanxuan to make the Xuanjing Spirit Oath and read the Cultivation Technique. Li Xuanling also excused himself to cultivate.
Li Tongya watched as the younger generation departed into the distance. He set down the teacup in his hand and stood up, calculating the years. He was nearing fifty, just a couple of years away, and there was still half the journey left to reach the Seventh Layer of Qi Cultivation. He couldn't help but smile bitterly and said,
"The talents and the mediocre, all have fallen to deceit. Here I am, caught in the middle, bitterly cultivating. The world is unpredictable, the ways of the world are heartless; I must diligently continue my cultivation!"
Having said this, he mounted the wind and ascended, going back to his Cave Mansion to cultivate.
————
In the woods more than three hundred miles away from the Li Family, a young man wearing a Cloud Patterned Robe was frantically fleeing. He wore a jade crown on his head, donned in a Vestment Robe, and had conjured a pale purple Jade Bead that erected a bright purple Shield, racing through the sky.
Two Taoists in white robes were chasing after him, both with flowing white beards, holding Dharma Swords in their hands and standing on Flying Shutters, closely following, their Magic Artifacts continually sending out bright silver sword glows that struck the bright purple Shield, emitting flashes of Spell collision.
"Ling Yanzi, stop running and cease increasing your pain. This area is full of tiny families with no true Qi, coming forward will only lead to death!"
The Escaping Lights of the two firmly suppressed him, preventing him from flying in the direction of the County City. Seeing the mortals below kneeling scattered on the ground, Ling Yanzi felt utter despair in his heart.
"Where exactly is this Lijing Li Family!"
As a disciple from the Ziyan Sect, part of the Three Sects and Seven Doors alliance, located west of the Tang Jin Sect, he came to Da Li Mountain to handle an important matter, only to run into these two bastards from the Changxiao Sect who ruthlessly chased him for three days and nights, encircling the outskirts of Da Li Mountain, from the South Foothills to the North Foothills.
After much difficulty and staggering encounters, he found a family near the Mushroom Forest Plain. While dodging the attackers' onslaught, Ling Yanzi cried out loudly, but it was just a small family on the edge of the Mushroom Forest Plain. How could they dare to interfere in the struggles between the Three Sects and Seven Doors? They answered timidly,
"Our strength is weak, your honor. Please head west; there you will find a family known as the Lijing Li Family, said to be a Sword Immortal Family and surely able to lift your curse."
Angered, Ling Yanzi cursed three times and had no choice but to continue flying west. Now almost over the lake surface, he had yet to see the Lijing Li Family.
"Master bless... may the legacy of Ziqi Peak not end with me..."
"If it wasn't for this Purple Smoke Spiritual Veil, how could I last so long against these Changxiao Sect dogs... But now my Elixirs and Talismans are running low, and if I cannot escape, I fear today might be the day I fall here."
Ling Yanzi consumed the last Elixir and mustered his True Yuan. A large swarm of mortals was seen below; finally, two mountain peaks appeared before him. His eyes filled with excitement at the sight of the bright Great Formation, he hastened his speed and amplified his voice,
"I am Ling Yanzi, a disciple of the Ziyan Sect, allied with the Green Pond Sect. Currently pursued by enemies, I beseech the seniors of the Li Family ahead to save me!"
His voice, augmented by Mana, thundered like rolling thunder, startling the townspeople below who looked up and whispered among themselves.
The door to Li Tongya's Cave Mansion was urgently knocked by Li Xuanxuan, who frowned before he could speak, Ling Yanzi's voice came through once more.
"I am a disciple of the Ziyan Sect, allied with the Green Pond Sect... seniors of the Li Family ahead, please save me!"
Li Tongya's expression turned grim as he cursed inwardly,
"The entanglements of the Three Sects and Seven Doors, why have they spilled over to my doorstep!"
"Although the Ziyan Sect is allied with the Green Pond Sect... The Green Pond Sect is nothing good, having harmed my family not once or twice... If I go help, I might be marked for retaliation by the Three Sects and Seven Doors! But if we do not offer assistance, we risk offending both the Green Pond Sect and the Ziyan Sect at the same time, what a mess..."
Li Tongya had just thought of leaving the Cave Mansion when Ling Yanzi, struggling under the relentless attack of the two, cried out loudly above, 𝓯𝙧𝓮𝓮𝒘𝓮𝙗𝙣𝒐𝒗𝒆𝓵.𝓬𝓸𝒎
"It is said that the Li Family are Sword Immortals with formidable strength, truly you will not save me! Ling Yanzi will surely present treasures and techniques as gratitude afterward..."
Li Tongya's expression grew increasingly unpleasant as he sighed,
"Our reputation has protected us but also encumbered us! This person must have sought help from many families along the way, with each one passing the buck until it ended up with our Li Family. Seeing how dire his state is, I can't afford to let this hot potato explode in the Li Family's hands."
Glancing around, Li Tongya moved closer to the edge of the Great Formation and extended his Spiritual Sense, discovering that Ling Yanzi possessed the Sixth Layer of Qi Cultivation, while the two cultivators wielding Dharma Swords were at the Seventh and Sixth Layers, respectively. Their True Yuan flowed vigorously—clearly, they were not easy to deal with.
"I am Yu Yunzi of the Changxiao Sect! Do not meddle in affairs that do not concern you, heh heh! Should you offend Changxiao Sect, the Green Pond Sect cannot protect you at all times! Who knows, one day you might be annihilated and have to flee. Your Green Pond Sect has always been cold and unrighteous. Would they stand up for a minor family?"
Upon hearing this, Ling Yanzi was momentarily stunned before hurriedly calling out,
"Don't be misled by these two! If I fall here, the Ziyan Sect will not let it go! If they trace the matter back here through investigation, you will all suffer as well..."
Li Tongya felt a headache coming on as he contemplated internally,
"If I intervene now... scaring off these two would indeed save Ling Yanzi. However, we would undoubtedly become a target for retaliation. If we don't save him and Ziyan Sect comes knocking, it's inevitable that we'll face consequences... The best course of action would be to quietly dispose of these two, which would be the most secure solution."
Then he swiftly rose into the air, stepped out of the Great Formation and spoke softly,
"Li Tongya of the Li Family from Lijing greets the two of you!"
When Ling Yanzi saw this, his face brightened, but then he noticed Li Tongya was only at the Sixth Layer of Qi Cultivation and urgently asked,
"Why have they sent you? Where are your seniors?"
Li Tongya gave an apologetic bow and said,
"Our Foundation Establishment ancestor is not within the formation, so I'm afraid you have come in vain."
The two from the Changxiao Sect laughed upon hearing this and exchanged a knowing look, thinking to themselves,
"Since the Li Family ancestor is not here, after killing Ling Yanzi, we can extort them as well..."
However, Ling Yanzi's face turned pale as he raised his Treasure Bead and exclaimed,
"Is the Li Family truly so heartless..."
Ling Yanzi was on the verge of desperation, filled with despair and ready to fight to the death, when he suddenly heard Li Tongya's low, buzzing voice, transmitted through Mana,
"Elder, please head to the lake for now, shake them off and then return to the forest by the shore. In the corner of the great lake, follow the mountainside deep into an area with a big mountain topped by a white banyan tree. We will be waiting there with our men to ambush these two... In this way, our Li Family will not have to make enemies with Changxiao Sect, and you, elder, can escape safely. A perfect solution..."
Ling Yanzi's heart leapt with joy, but he kept his face unchanged and shook his head in grief as he stepped onto his Flying Shuttle and made his way above the lake. The two from Changxiao Sect laughed heartily, nodded at Li Tongya, and then followed suit on their Flying Shuttles.
Watching them leave, Li Tongya descended from the mountain and called out Li Xuanfeng, who was utterly baffled, from the Cave Mansion. After changing into different robes, he explained his plan as they both rode the wind, flying through the mountains for a few moments before landing beneath the large banyan tree.
A fox, dozing off in earnest, partially opened one eye to look at him and called out,
"Oh, a junior has arrived!"
Li Tongya bowed and shared his strategy. He then instructed Li Xuanfeng to lie in wait on the opposite mountaintop, took out a Spiritual Cloth to cover his face, and quietly stood under the tree, waiting for the three to arrive.
