Cloud Lotus Flying Boat

Li Shuilang thanked them and took his leave.

Li Tianliang stepped forward, cupped his fists toward Golden-Faced Gentleman and Qin Yue'e, and said, "Golden-Faced Gentleman, Fairy Qin, the Cultivation World is far too cruel. To ensure the Li Family bloodline continues, I ask for your permission to take Li Shuidao home for half a year, so he can marry and have children. Do you agree?"

A pleased smile appeared on Golden-Faced Gentleman's face. "Of course. For young disciples to return to their families and spread their branches is one of the most important things they can do. It benefits the sect as well. More than half the disciples are killed or injured in every trial our sect holds. Without this custom, how could the sect have such a steady stream of outstanding disciples?"

Though Golden-Faced Gentleman readily agreed, Qin Yue'e remained silent, her face as dark as water.

After a moment's thought, she suddenly spoke. "Li Shuidao, as a member of a Cultivation Family, spreading your branches and continuing your bloodline is indeed your duty. But cultivation is no easy matter, either. Whether or not you return to your family, I hope you'll put your cultivation first, train diligently, and not lose yourself in the pleasures of the bedchamber."

Li Shuidao immediately knelt and bowed deeply. "Master, Mistress, I understand what you hope of me. Whether or not I return to my family, I'll put cultivation first and train hard. I won't let you down. Thank you for your guidance."

Golden-Faced Gentleman smiled. "Li Shuidao, off you go. Remember to return on time in half a year."

"This disciple obeys." Li Shuidao took his leave.

Li Tianliang led Li Shuidao outside the main hall. He patted his Storage Bag and took out an exquisite flying boat. The boat instantly grew larger, becoming as lovely as a sleeping lotus. A faint glow radiated from it as the surrounding moisture gathered on its own, white mist slowly curling around the lotus.

Flying Artifact: Cloud Lotus Flying Boat.

The two leaped aboard. Li Tianliang formed a hand seal, and the boat shot straight into the clouds, vanishing in an instant.

Qin Yue'e gazed at the exquisite Cloud Lotus Flying Boat, envy welling in her heart. "Husband, how many spirit stones is that boat worth?"

Golden-Faced Gentleman pondered for a moment. "At least a thousand, perhaps even ten thousand. And for long-distance flights, it needs spirit stones. To fly from here to the Li Family in Divine Wood City would take at least two."

"So expensive? The Li Family in Divine Wood City has such deep foundations?" Qin Yue'e looked astonished.

Golden-Faced Gentleman nodded slightly, his expression growing grave. "Rumor has it that the Li Family of Divine Wood City came from the Azure Sea Sect and is an exceptionally powerful Cultivation Family. It seems the rumors were true..."

"Given the Li Family's strength, we mustn't slight its members. If those two from the Li Family reach the middle stage of the Spirit Channeling Realm and gain mana, we shouldn't have them tending the Spirit Fields anymore," Golden-Faced Gentleman added.

"Then I'll have Xue'er and Lu Qi'er learn more from them in their daily work."

Golden-Faced Gentleman nodded. "We can recruit two more disciples and choose one of the two from the Li Family to be Senior Disciple Brother."

"Then we'll do as you say, Husband," Qin Yue'e replied.

"Who do you think should be Senior Disciple Brother?" Golden-Faced Gentleman asked with a smile.

"I don't know. You can decide, Husband." Qin Yue'e's voice was cold, with even a trace of hatred in it.

Golden-Faced Gentleman glanced at his wife in surprise. He couldn't understand where her hatred came from.

In the air...

The Cloud Lotus Flying Boat had flown only a short distance before turning around and darting down toward the Six-Fingered Mountain area.

Li Tianliang, piloting the boat, was drenched in sweat. Li Shuidao's heart was in his throat.

Fortunately, the Cloud Lotus Flying Boat steadied itself just before it hit the ground.

Li Shuidao jumped off the boat, feeling as if he'd just survived a disaster.

"Brother Tianliang, did the clan's treasure boat manage to impress Golden-Faced Gentleman?" Li Tianwu, dressed in black, hurried out to greet them.

The Cloud Lotus Flying Boat had landed right outside Sea Snake Daoist's cave.

Li Tianliang gave a bitter smile. "I don't know. Let's hope so. If Shuilang can learn Golden-Faced Gentleman's ultimate techniques someday, then all our effort won't have been wasted."

"But, Brother Tianliang, is Golden-Faced Gentleman really a Golden Scorpion Spirit Companion?" Li Tianwu suddenly asked.

"Could he not be? He's called Golden-Faced Gentleman, so he must have a body full of Metal System Daoist Magic. That means he has to be a Poison Scorpion Spirit Companion." Li Tianliang furrowed his brows.

Li Shuidao: "..."

After the two Li Family brothers finished talking, Li Tianliang left, leaving Li Shuidao to wait at Sea Snake Daoist's cave.

Two days later...

Seven people gathered in the cave: Li Shuidao, Li Yijun, Li Shuilong, Li Yiqing, Li Shuilin, Li Haotang, and Li Yixin.

A little over a year ago, thirteen members of the Li Family had joined the Five Poisons Sect.

Half a year ago, six members of the Li Family had returned to the clan to marry and have children, leaving descendants behind.

Half a year later, the seven remaining members of the Li Family followed Li Tianliang back to their hometown.

Li Tianliang led them on foot. After half a day along the mountain road, they reached a small town outside Poison Dragon Ridge.

At the town's post station, the eight of them each mounted a swift horse and rode along the official road toward Divine Wood City.

"Hyah!"

The spring breeze rushed past as their horses galloped.

Eight fine steeds and seven youths, all only fifteen years old. They had been away from their families for more than a year, and at last they could go home again.

Thinking of returning to the family and being able to marry and have children, the youths were all filled with joy. They laughed and chatted all the way, brimming with spirit.

Only Li Shuilong and Li Shuidao seemed different.

Throughout the journey, Li Shuilong and Li Shuidao remained silent, as if they had no anticipation at all about marrying and having children.

Seven or eight days later...

The eight swift horses entered the Li Family grounds in Divine Wood City.

Li Shuidao leaped off his horse and looked up at the Li Family's signboard.

After more than a year, he had returned to the Li Family once more. He would marry and have children for half a year, then return to the Five Poisons Sect. By then, he would be nearly sixteen.

For a cultivator to advance from the early to the middle stage of the Spirit Channeling Realm took at least five years without any resources. But with plentiful Spiritual Objects, it could take just one or two.

Even if Li Shuidao revealed his mana now, it wouldn't be too astonishing.

If he revealed his mana at sixteen, he would be considered merely average.

Now that he was back with his family, he had only half a year. He might as well reveal his cultivation and get an early look at the Water System Daoist Magic in the Li Family's collection, searching for a few techniques that would suit him.

As for "marrying," he could just go along with it. "Having children" was absolutely out of the question!

The gates of the Li residence opened, and everyone filed inside...

Li Shuidao returned home.

At last, he saw his father, Li Haoshan, and his mother, Madam Jiang, along with his two chubby younger siblings.

His father, Li Haoshan, asked, "Son, how have you been doing in the sect?"

Li Shuidao smiled cheerfully. "Father, Mother... I've been doing quite well in the sect. Master and Mistress value me. I help them tend their Spirit Fields and earn thirty Moon Coins each month. I've also become a spirit beast handler, riding Master's White Feather Crane. Mistress gives me plenty of rewards, too, so I have no shortage of cultivation resources."

"Really?" His parents were both delighted.

"To be honest, Father and Mother, I've already developed mana and entered the middle stage of the Spirit Channeling Realm." Li Shuidao spoke with pride.

"Really?"

"Absolutely!" Li Shuidao revealed his own water-blue mana, stunning his father on the spot.

By showing his cultivation to his family and letting the clan know he had reached the middle stage of the Spirit Channeling Realm, he could enter the Library Pavilion to read without raising suspicion.

If anyone asked, he would say that Master and Mistress had rewarded him with so many Spiritual Objects that he broke through as soon as he returned home.