txolops Chapter 80: The Li Family's Ambition
Chapter 80: The Li Family's Ambition
Liu Yuelong nodded slightly, then glanced at Yang Jiuli again, feeling that things weren't as simple as they seemed.
However, seeing that the latter said the same thing twice, Liu Yuelong didn't ask any further questions.
"Brother Liu, how much do you know about this Xuan Yin Valley?" Yang Jiuli asked after taking a sip of wine.
"I don't know much about Xuan Yin Valley, I only know that it is an evil cultivation force," Liu Yuelong said.
"In the cultivation world, information about various forces is extremely important. You can ask your cousin more questions!" Yang Jiuli said.
"Yes!" Liu Yuelong nodded solemnly and said, "This time I will definitely ask my cousin to inquire about as much information as possible."
Liu Yuelong also knew that Yang Jiuli was implying something, subtly suggesting that the information he provided this time was not complete.
In fact, Liu Yuelong was still shaken.
If he had known that Xuan Yin Valley was going to attack the Li family of Yunmeng Lake, he naturally wouldn't have gotten involved in this mess.
"Hehe, if there's any news, Brother Liu, remember to share it with us!" Yang Jiuli nodded slightly, raised his cup, and smiled.
"Of course!" Liu Yuelong also raised his glass.
After drinking, Yang Jiuli returned to a temporary dwelling.
He sat up cross-legged and began to refine the medicinal power of the spirit wine.
Under the guidance of the Three Lives Stone, the medicinal power of the spirit wine was quickly transformed into magical power and stored in the spiritual root.
"The Li family has a feud with Xuan Yin Valley..."
Yang Jiuli began to analyze the current situation.
"Although Xuan Yin Valley retreated this time, it was clearly just a trial offensive, and a much bigger storm is sure to follow."
"If there's an opportunity in the future, we should have Zhixue investigate the foundation of Xuan Yin Valley!"
After this incident, Yang Jiuli realized that ordinary disciples of immortal sects could not obtain information from higher-ups.
Information about Liu Chen should only be taken as a reference.
What's truly useful is still something you have to figure out yourself.
Qin Zhixue has joined the Ice River Valley and will definitely receive special training. She will have the opportunity to come into contact with the higher-ups and should have more comprehensive information.
"Besides that, I need to prepare more trump cards in case of unforeseen circumstances!"
Yang Jiuli thought this to himself, but he wasn't in a hurry.
This battle will at least ensure the Li family of Yunmeng Lake's stability for several years.
With a thought, Yang Jiuli moved his hand, and a storage bag appeared in his palm.
This is the storage bag of the eighth-level Qi Refining cultivator from Xuan Yin Valley.
Yang Jiuli used his divine sense to sense the storage bag and found that there were no restrictions on it, so he confidently infiltrated it.
Divine consciousness seeped into it.
They discovered that the storage bag was two zhang square, which was considered a mid-grade first-level storage bag.
Inside the storage bag, there were some items scattered around.
Among them was a set of first-grade high-quality robes, which was quite valuable, worth between 120 and 150 low-grade spirit stones.
Besides the robes:
There are also one hundred low-grade spirit stones.
Three medicinal herbs, each a hundred years old.
A first-tier, mid-grade short shuttle magic weapon.
In addition, there are six first-tier mid-grade talismans and two first-tier high-grade talismans.
"This robe is quite nice; it's engraved with first-tier high-grade array patterns, allowing it to defend itself."
Yang Jiuli murmured to himself, somewhat satisfied with this harvest.
Li Feiyu was a decent person; he didn't keep all the spoils for himself.
Then, he began to circulate the "Azure Emperor's Longevity Technique" to draw in the wood spirit energy and refine it into magical power.
……
Yunmeng Lake, the central island of the Li family, is called Diyan Island.
Earth Flame Island covers a vast area, stretching nine kilometers from north to south.
There is a volcano on the island that is thousands of feet high.
There is a second-tier superior fire vein underground.
The crater still occasionally emits wisps of smoke, creating a unique sight in the lake.
Because it was an extinct volcano with a second-grade high-quality fire vein, the Li family built their main residence there.
At this moment, at the foot of a giant volcano, in a mansion.
Li Ruoyu, the head of the Li family, sat in the main seat on the hall platform.
Li Ruoyu was 108 years old, in his prime, and at the late stage of Foundation Establishment.
He had a square face, a nose like a hanging gall bladder, and a commanding gaze.
Beside him, the Third Elder Li Changyan, the First Elder Li Jun, and the Second Elder Li Qufeng sat on the right.
These are the three Foundation Establishment elders of the Li family.
In addition, there were two Foundation Establishment Elders in the Li family, sitting on the left.
These two guest advisors were of different builds; one was slightly overweight, and the other looked old.
The fat man was named Xu Huaiyi. He was a second-tier alchemist, in the mid-Foundation Establishment stage, and was about 112 years old.
The other person had silver hair, was emaciated, and looked extremely old, with an iron cane beside him.
This man, named Gongsun Yang, is a talisman maker in the mid-Foundation Establishment stage, aged 151. He had made enemies outside and was seriously injured, so he came to the Li family of Yunmeng Lake as a guest elder. Firstly, he found a backer, and secondly, he could earn some money to support himself.
"The villains of Xuan Yin Valley are nothing to worry about. Once my ancestor successfully forms his core, we can eradicate them completely!"
Li Ruoyu's gaze swept across the crowd in the hall.
Finally, he focused on the two guest retainers on the left and said meaningfully.
Although this great battle is over, we still need to appease people's hearts; otherwise, if these two guest advisors are inclined to retreat, we will suffer considerable losses.
"Hehe, the Xuan Yin Valley thieves are like ants trying to shake a tree. However, if we let them be so arrogant, it will damage the reputation of our master. Why not ask the Qingyan Immortal Sect to take action and destroy Xuan Yin Valley?" Xu Huaiyi stroked his beard and said with a smile, his eyes narrowed.
Gongsun Yang, standing to the side, remained calm, squinting his old eyes as he slowly looked at Li Ruoyu, who sat in the main seat of the hall.
Li Ruoyu frowned slightly.
"If we always rely on the immortal sects for help, wouldn't that make the Li family look incompetent?" said Li Jun, the eldest elder on the right.
"The Elder is absolutely right." Upon hearing this, Xu Huaiyi smiled and nodded repeatedly, then fell silent.
He knew that this was most likely because the Li family couldn't persuade the Azure Flame Immortal Sect to help them.
He asked that question simply to find out what was going on.
After all, being part of the Li family in Yunmeng Lake, he needed to know the family's background in order to make plans.
"There's plenty of time ahead. We shouldn't be fixated on momentary grudges... Fighting and killing, wouldn't that make us no different from those evil cultivators? Right now, the focus of my Li family is on refining pills. If those pill formulas are successfully formulated... my Li family's pills will surely occupy most of the Chu Kingdom's market... and we can even expand into the markets of neighboring countries... At that time, we can also collect more medicinal materials, and it's not impossible to gather a few sets of Core Formation spiritual items..." Li Ruoyu stroked his beard and smiled, looking at Xu Huaiyi.
"Open up markets in neighboring countries... a Core Formation spirit item!" Xu Huaiyi was filled with excitement.
If that time really comes, it will truly be a fortune.
They can also collect materials for Core Formation through markets in various countries.
Even if there were miraculous medicines, they would most likely be used by the Li family.
But at least he has one more thought, one more hope.
"You have all worked hard and made great contributions. If the Li family succeeds, we will never forget you," Li Ruoyu said passionately.
"It is an honor for us to serve the Li family!" Xu Huaiyi said.
"Hehe, the Li family is blessed with great fortune and will surely succeed!" Gongsun Yang stroked his beard, smiled slightly, and said in a slightly aged voice.
"When we achieve our goal, we will stand together at the pinnacle of immortality!" Li Ruoyu said to the crowd with great satisfaction.
"Thank you for the Li family's care. We will definitely work hand in hand with the Li family!" Gongsun Yang and Xu Huaiyi stood up and bowed.
They were also very excited.
As guest advisors, the Li family also revealed their family's development goals and direction:
To make the Li family the number one cultivation family in the southern part of the Chu Kingdom's cultivation world.
Whether it succeeds or not depends entirely on whether Ancestor Li Hongtai of the Azure Flame Immortal Sect can successfully form his core.
If successful, the Li family can use the "Replenishing Essence and Correcting Self Pill" to create another Core Formation cultivator.
In this way, the Li family naturally became a third-tier immortal clan.
Those who sought refuge with the Li family would naturally ride the coattails of the family's rise to prominence.
After exchanging a few pleasantries, everyone dispersed.
Li Ruoyu met with Li Changyan alone and listened to the latter slowly recount the events of the day.
"Two promising young immortals died?" Li Ruoyu asked expressionlessly. "Give their clans some compensation..."
"As for the other two injured seedlings, let them be raised in my Li family for now."
They kept the two injured fairy seedlings at the Li family's house, so they wouldn't go out.
They also wouldn't spread the matter too widely, lest it embarrass the Li family.
After all, if word got out that the immortal seedlings had been ambushed and killed, it would surely make other immortal seedlings hesitate about joining the Li family.
This will be extremely detrimental to the Li family's future recruitment of retainers.
Upon hearing this, Li Changyan nodded slightly.
"This Xuan Yin Valley knows that our ancestor is about to form his core, yet they still dare to openly offend the Li family. This matter is probably not simple! Should we have the Qingyan Immortal Sect investigate?" Li Changyan frowned slightly, looked at Li Ruoyu in front of him, and said.
"It's alright... I already have a plan in mind!" Li Ruoyu waved his hand and said, "It's just a few forces that dare to attack my Li family... At this moment, what we need to do is concentrate on expanding our pill business."
"In this way, when Clan Brother Hongtai successfully forms his core, our Li family can leapfrog to become a third-tier immortal clan!"
Li Ruoyu stroked his short beard and looked out the window. A glint of shrewdness flashed in his deep eyes, clearly indicating that he had far-reaching plans.
Engaging in fighting and killing at this time would only weaken the family's power.
It would be better to save our energy for developing industries.
Once Li Hongtai of the Azure Flame Immortal Sect reaches the Core Formation Realm, he will be able to annihilate the Profound Yin Valley with overwhelming force.
Why waste time and energy arguing over a short-term gain?
Furthermore, that arrow shot today has been enough to deter villains for years to come!
Li Changyan nodded slightly and then withdrew.
……
The next day, early in the morning.
Li Feiyu's arrival led Yang Jiuli, Lu Wenzheng, Liu Yuelong, and Huang Cheng to the inner lake area of Yunmeng Lake.
Flocks of egrets occasionally flew over the lake.
The lake was shrouded in mist, a truly beautiful sight.
"The spiritual energy in this inner lake is so rich!" Lu Wenzheng looked around from the lotus leaf and took a deep breath.
"If we could cultivate here, even if we couldn't reach the Foundation Establishment stage, we could at least reach the ninth level of Qi Refining, right?" Huang Cheng whispered.
They all looked excited.
Seeing everyone's expressions, Li Feiyu smiled slightly.
He was already used to this.
Every time an ordinary cultivator is sent here, it's hard not to feel a sense of感慨 (gǎnkǎi, mixed feelings).
In reality, reaching the ninth level of Qi Refining is not that easy.
The threshold beyond the sixth level of Qi Refining is something that countless cultivators cannot cross in their entire lives.
Otherwise, how could the Li family only have a dozen or so cultivators at the ninth level of Qi Refining?
Most of them were elders over fifty years old.
"If you become first-tier high-grade alchemists, you will be qualified to find an island in the inner lake as your training ground," Li Feiyu said with a smile.
"A first-tier high-grade alchemist..." Upon hearing this, Liu Yuelong clicked his tongue, a hint of fervor appearing in his eyes.
Lu Wenzheng and Huang Cheng also looked very excited.
"If you become a second-tier alchemist, then you can choose an island with a second-tier spiritual vein in the center of the lake as your training ground..." Li Feiyu continued, his gaze shifting as he looked towards the central area of Yunmeng Lake ahead.
Most of the islands there have second-tier spiritual veins, and only clan leaders and elders are qualified to live there.
Li Feiyu's great-grandfather was Li Changyan, a mid-Foundation Establishment cultivator.
Therefore, he was fortunate enough to follow his great-grandfather to cultivate on an island.