Family Cultivation: I Become a Mirror-Chapter 173 - 163 Xiao Family’s Plan

"The senior speaks the truth."

Xiao Ruyu raised his hand in a salute, yet he did not wish to owe favors over a mere few thousand mortals. His tone shifted as he respectfully said,

"It's just that before I left my home, the elders of my family specifically instructed me that the closer two families are, the more clearly they should distinguish these insignificant matters to prevent any misunderstandings. I keep this in mind and dare not take advantage of your noble family."

Seeing him handle the situation with such a clean and measured approach, Li Tongya regarded him with increased respect, softly asking,

"So, what do you suggest?"

"For every batch of mortals delivered to Lixia County, my Xiao Family will compensate, one Spirit Stone per thousand mortals."

The price offered by Xiao Ruyu was quite generous indeed, especially since the Green Pond Sect had set a poor precedent. The other families all acted with an eye to the Upper Sect. Unrestricted, they had always taken whatever they wanted from the mortals under their control and never considered them a significant resource. Only some Cultivators with special needs placed some value on them, the rest even more so overlooked them.

"Then let's settle on this."

Li Tongya agreed, then saw Xiao Ruyu nod his head before speaking again,

"I have another matter to discuss. The ancient Lidao has been in disrepair for many years, overgrown and hidden in the mountains and forests. Ferocious tiger demons and beasts roam freely, causing the families along the road to cease their interactions. Only those who have reached the Qi Cultivation stage can travel within the county, which is quite inconvenient."

"My Xiao Family wishes to repair the ancient Lidao, establish post stations at each family's territory along the path, with the Xiao Family filling the vacancies, allowing the many Fetal Breathing Cultivators and mortals who are merchants to travel to and from the county... benefiting all the families on Lidao."

"Oh?"

Li Tongya had not expected the Xiao Family to undertake such an ungrateful and burdensome task. He paused briefly, softly saying,

"If the Xiao Family takes the lead on this, it is also greatly beneficial to my Li Family, and naturally there's no reason to disagree... But forgive my frankness, why trouble yourselves with such a thankless task?"

Li Tongya wasn't one to meddle unnecessarily, but the two families had been on good terms for many years, and both Xiao Yuansi and Xiao Chuting had been generous to the Li Family, which prompted him to offer his advice.

"Thank you for your concern, Senior."

Xiao Ruyu had seen many families along the way on Lidao who agreed readily, and he guessed many were secretly scoffing at the Xiao Family. Only Li Tongya had offered a word of comfort. Xiao Ruyu slightly shook his head, explaining,

"The Xiao Family's Alchemy and Artifact Refining branches cooperate with many families, supporting thirty percent of the Cultivators within the radius of Lixia County—a crucial business for my family's expenditures. If the flow of herbs and Spiritual Mines were cut off, it would greatly distress us. My family is interested in the Spiritual Objects of Lidao... I cannot reveal more than this, I hope the senior understands."

Upon hearing this, and combining it with the fact that Xiao Chuting had quietly reached Zifu, Li Tongya internally gasped and began to guess, saying in a deep voice,

"If it's inconvenient, then there's no need to mention it."

Xiao Ruyu nodded slightly, discussed the distribution of the post stations, and finalized the arrangements before bowing his leave.

Li Xuanling escorted him out of the compound and watched him ride the wind eastward before returning to the courtyard. Seeing Li Tongya silently holding his teacup at the head seat, he stayed quiet for a while before inquiring,

"Father, the Xiao Family has dealings with Mushroom Forest Plain and families of Linghai County all year round. Are they worried someone might cut off their trade routes to the east? And who would have the power to prevent other families from dealing with the Xiao Family?"

Li Tongya put down his tea bowl, shook his head, and answered,

"The Xiao Family probably wants to break away from the Green Pond Sect and establish itself."

"What?!"

Li Xuanling was stunned, his voice strained as he said,

"But... Green Pond Sect currently has three Zifu early-stage, one in the middle-stage, and Chi Wei at the peak... How could they dare?"

"The Xiao Family is waiting for Chi Wei's passing."

Li Tongya pondered momentarily, feeling seventy to eighty percent certain, his eyes narrowing as he spoke softly,

"Now that Xiao Chuting has reached Zifu, he has the standing to come forward. Didn't the Chen Family immediately declare independence when their Zifu elder emerged? But among Green Pond Sect's Zifus, only Chi Wei has the power to strike down Xiao Chuting on the spot. With Chi Wei's death, it would be natural for the Xiao Family to break away from Green Pond Sect and take over the shattered Lixia County, backed by both Mushroom Forest Plain and Wangyue Lake. Green Pond Sect might even be compelled to present congratulatory gifts."

"Zifu..."

Li Xuanling muttered to himself and took a deep sigh before replying,

"The various families are merely tools in the hands of the Zifu in the game between the Three Sects and Seven Doors..."

"It's just that once they leave the Green Pond Sect, which family in the counties would dare to trade with the Xiao Family beyond their borders? The Xiao Family will naturally seek out new sources and targets for dumping their products, hence the push Westward, to repair the ancient Lidao route and aim for the scattered families near Mushroom Forest Plain and Wangyue Lake, which don't have large county cities."

Having finished his words, Li Tongya felt a renewed sense of confidence in his heart and pondered silently,

"It's just that my Li Family must consider how to preserve itself and gain advantages amidst such turmoil... Diverting the disaster eastward, changing the current situation where the Yu Family alone dominates Wangyue Lake."

————

Li Yuanjiao stood in the courtyard with a sword in hand, facing a young girl with her hair tied up, her almond eyes fixated on the sword in his hand. They had been sparring in the courtyard for a while, and Li Yuanjiao, noticing that her footing was light and that she likely followed a path of Agility and variation, swept his practice wooden sword forward, closing in towards her face.

The girl wielded her soft wooden spear to parry and sweep, retreating a few steps before using her left hand to block Li Yuanjiao's wooden sword, and with raised eyebrows, she laughed and said,

"Yuanjiao, you're so sly,"

"Hmph,"

Li Yuanjiao hummed softly and also retreated with his sword, replying,

"There's nothing sly or not about it. It's just that your Spear Technique is quite solid, Qinghong. You managed to block a few of my moves."

Li Qinghong giggled, understanding that she had actually been at a disadvantage earlier, and said somewhat reluctantly,

"With the Swordsmanship traditions in our family, it was naturally easier to learn. I've already sought the best spear master from the foot of the mountain for my Spear Technique, but it's still been hard earned and less than gratifying..."

"You have family Swordsmanship to practice. Why trouble yourself with Spear Technique? Spear Technique is easy to learn but hard to master. Without someone to teach you, you might never get the hang of it for a lifetime."

Li Yuanjiao shrugged, and Li Qinghong planted her Spear on the ground, speaking in a petulant tone,

"That Swordsmanship gives me a headache. Father brought out all sorts of weapons and had me choose. They say, 'an inch longer, an inch stronger,' so I picked up a spear. Who knew Father would be so pleased and told me to practice well, so I had no choice but to continue."

Seeing that it was Li Xuanling's decision, Li Yuanjiao quelled the thought of urging her to switch to Swordsmanship and hung his wooden sword on the wall, tidying his robe. Li Qinghong placed her Spear in the corner and let her hair down. Her face was slightly flushed from the intense exercise, adding a girlish charm to her appearance.

There were two soft knocks on the courtyard door, followed by a respectful voice,

"Young Master, Madam calls for you!"

"I understand,"

Li Yuanjiao responded, and seeing an old servant with his head lowered standing outside, who usually served by his mother's side, he asked in a low voice,

"What happened?"

"To report to the Young Master, people from Eastern Shanyue have arrived, saying that... Mu Jiaoman... passed away due to severe injuries, the previous night."

Li Yuanjiao's eyes lit up, feeling no particular sorrow over the death of his uncle, whom he had never met. Instead, there was a great stir in his heart. Seeing the giggling Li Qinghong on the side, he turned his head and asked,

"What's so funny?"

Li Qinghong did not fully understand the details, but she instinctively had a sharp intuition—or perhaps a keen sense of the situation—warning her. Li Qinghong pursed her lips and laughed, 𝕗𝚛𝚎𝚎𝐰𝗲𝗯𝗻𝚘𝚟𝚎𝗹.𝕔𝐨𝕞

"It's nothing bad. It's a good thing, anyway!"

"Hehe."

Li Yuanjiao quickly left the courtyard, running eagerly outside, laughing,

"The nine towns and twenty-six tribes of Eastern Shanyue shall all belong to my family soon!"