Wan Family

Atop Green Spike Peak stood a small pavilion with cloud-framed windows and misty chambers, carved from moonlight and cut from clouds. Gentle morning rays flowed over it, bathing the building in golden light.

Seated on a bluestone before the pavilion, Li Chijing slowly exhaled a breath of clear air. He opened his eyes and gazed out at the boundless sea of clouds before him, one handsome brow lifting as he thought to himself, The Azure Origin Wheel is finally complete!

Our clan's technique has quite the pedigree. What it cultivates is not ordinary Azure Origin spiritual power, but Moonlight Azure Origin. Not only is it more condensed, its power far surpasses that of ordinary techniques.

Rising to straighten his azure robe, Li Chijing stepped into the pavilion and took a gleaming, cold sword from the wall. With a turn of his wrist, he flicked out a flower of sword light.

I've also made an entry into the Profound Water Sword Manual Senior Brother gave me. Though a third-grade technique can only truly be controlled in the Qi Refining Realm, fortunately the technique itself is not difficult and is very easy to learn.

I wonder whether Father is well, and whether my brothers have condensed their Circulating Movement Wheels. I hear Tang Gold Gate in the west has been stirring lately. The two families share a border stretching thousands of li—has the Li Clan been affected?

With these worries in mind, Li Chijing no longer had any mood to practice his sword. He lay sprawled before the desk, idly flipping through a Jade Slip, while his thoughts had already flown a thousand li away to the Li Clan.

"Junior Brother!"

A cheerful shout rang out. A broad-browed, large-eyed man walked in from outside the pavilion—it was his senior brother, Xiao Yuansi. He smiled at Li Chijing by the desk and said:

"Junior Brother, guess what good news I've brought!"

"Senior Brother, don't tease me."

Li Chijing shook his head with a bitter smile, put away the Jade Slip in his hand, and assumed an attentive posture.

"Master has sent me to Li Xia County on business!"

Xiao Yuansi raised a brow, then asked, "Do you have any family letters you want me to bring?"

"Yes, yes, yes! Thank you, Senior Brother! You're the best!"

Li Chijing was instantly overjoyed and thanked him repeatedly. Fetching brush, ink, paper, and inkstone, he began writing at once.

Xiao Yuansi smiled and said softly:

"Take your time. Just give it to me tonight."

As dawn approached, Li Xiangping slowly awoke from Entering Samadhi and mused, My Qi Sea is already full. After cultivating for another half year or so, I can attempt to condense the Circulating Movement Wheel.

By his reckoning, Li Xiangping had been stuck at the Circulating Movement Wheel for nearly four full years. His cultivation speed had been outrageously slow; Jing Er had probably already begun attempting the Azure Origin Wheel by now.

When he stepped out of his room, Tian Yun was basking in the sun at the doorway. Seeing Li Xiangping approach, she moved to rise.

"Hey, wait, wait."

Li Xiangping hurriedly waved his hands, supporting Tian Yun by the hand as he said gently, "You're pregnant now, so you must be careful. Don't harm the fetus!"

Tian Yun smiled mildly and looked into Li Xiangping's eyes as she answered softly, "Ever since I became pregnant, my body hasn't felt quite right."

After yawning, she spoke with a touch of worry, "I've heard that Qiuyang's cultivation has been advancing at a rapid pace. I often wonder—if our child lacks a spiritual aperture, then after a hundred years, the main branch may be weak while the offshoots grow strong. That may not be a blessing for our Li Clan."

Li Xiangping was stunned by her words. He affectionately rubbed her head and burst into laughter.

"Rest assured, our child will have a spiritual aperture as well. I'll take responsibility for the matters at home, so you needn't worry."

"As for Li Qiuyang, he merely condensed the Profound Scene Wheel earlier than us. There's no need to take it too seriously."

Seeing her husband Li Xiangping looking so utterly certain, Tian Yun gently leaned into his embrace and murmured, "As long as you know what you're doing."

Just as the two were sharing a tender moment, Liu Linfeng rushed into the front courtyard. At the sight before him, he hurriedly stopped short, his face flushing red as he found himself unable to advance or retreat.

Tian Yun smiled softly and withdrew with Ren Shi supporting her. Li Xiangping stared at Liu Linfeng in surprise, then asked with a smile:

"Uncle, what could be so urgent?"

"One of the Liu Family youngsters under me left Li Daokou and traveled several dozen li along Gu Li Road. By chance, he spotted a hunting farmer who was extraordinarily wary. The moment he saw our people, he ran. My boy didn't dare chase him, so he marked down the location and came back to report it."

Liu Linfeng panted as he hurriedly explained to Li Xiangping.

Li Xiangping frowned and was just about to speak when another figure rushed in through the gate. The two looked closely and saw that it was Li Yesheng.

Li Yesheng's face was also flushed red, and he was panting hard. He had clearly sprinted from one end of the village to the other. Without even daring to catch his breath, he said:

"Clan Head! A report has come from Li Chuan Mouth. An Immortal Master has arrived, claiming to be a cultivator from the Wan Family under the Governance of Green Pool, here to pay us a visit."

"Damn it! He most likely followed that boy here!"

Liu Linfeng slapped his thigh, his face full of regret as he gave himself a resounding slap across the mouth.

Li Xiangping rubbed his brow and let out a long breath, saying in a low voice:

"Don't panic yet. They're also under the Governance of Green Pool; they won't simply attack."

He raised his head and looked at the people gathered around him. "Where is Second Brother?"

"The Immortal Master went up the mountain early this morning and hasn't come down yet."

"Uncle, go up the mountain and inform Second Brother of everything. Tell him to remain on Back Mountain; there's no need for him to come down. Yesheng, come with me to Li Daokou."

Liu Linfeng answered in acknowledgment and hurried up the mountain.

Li Xiangping set off with Li Yesheng, followed by several village men from Li Jing Village, hurrying along the country path toward Li Daokou.

Upon reaching Li Daokou, they ran into one of Xu Wenshan's men. As they walked, Li Yesheng asked the man, "What did that person say?"

"That Immortal Master has been very quiet. He's sitting in the boss's courtyard without saying a word, eyes closed as he regulates his breath."

The man was quite composed as he answered.

As he spoke, Li Xiangping and the others had already arrived in front of the gate. Li Xiangping straightened his clothes, stepped forward, and looked toward the person seated in the place of honor.

The boy looked very young, around ten-odd years old. His features were delicate, and he wore a moon-white robe. At that moment, he too opened his eyes and looked at Li Xiangping.

"Li Xiangping, under the Governance of Green Pool."

Li Xiangping had not yet condensed the Jade Capital Wheel and had not developed Spiritual Sense, so he could not discern the boy's strength. He cupped his hands humbly in greeting.

Unexpectedly, the boy seemed to breathe a sigh of relief upon hearing this. He hurriedly rose and said respectfully, "Wan Yuankai of the Wan Family, under the Governance of Green Pool, greets the Li Clan Head."

"Not at all, not at all. I am merely a minor cultivator of the Li Clan; the Clan Head is my father."

Li Xiangping waved his hands repeatedly. Seeing how humble the other party was, the great stone in his heart finally fell away, and a smile appeared on his face.

"A few days ago, my father heard that the one on Green Spike Peak had dispatched people to serve as Town Guardians west of Gu Li Road. He was immediately overjoyed and sent this minor cultivator west to investigate, hoping to make the acquaintance of you friends. I happened to run into people from your village and thus came without invitation. Please forgive the offense."

Wan Yuankai was visibly excited. He politely apologized, then said with a faint smile:

"My father also had me bring congratulatory gifts."