Zhangsun Nanqiao's proposal

In the inner courtyard of Li Garden, Heaven and Earth Spiritual Qi surged, pouring madly into the medicine room.

Inside the medicine room, Li Ziye's body shuddered. Lightning flashed and thunder roared in the small world of the Divine Repository within his chest, and towering waves churned across his sea of True Essence. Endless Heaven and Earth Spiritual Qi poured in, making his sea of True Essence ever vaster.

Opening his second meridian had more than doubled the rate at which Li Ziye absorbed Heaven and Earth Spiritual Qi. Combined with his day-after-day accumulation, everything finally fell into place, and his cultivation advanced another step.

The middle stage of the First Martial Dao Realm. The instant he broke through, Li Ziye clearly felt the strength of the True Essence within his Divine Repository soar sharply. Even the perceptive ability of his divine sense improved considerably.

"Get familiar with your body!"

Zhang Lata spoke and casually waved a hand. The Ancient Chunjun Sword flew over and landed before Li Ziye.

Li Ziye looked at his hands, then reached out and drew the ancient sword. Stamping his foot, he sprang forward.

Whistling sword force crisscrossed through the inner courtyard. Li Ziye's figure flashed continuously, afterimages scattering as he completed eighteen steps in a single flowing sequence.

On the final step, Li Ziye planted himself firmly, gripped the sword in both hands, and slashed downward with his momentum.

Boom!

The three-foot blade cut through everything in its path. Before Li Ziye, a stone table shattered with a crash, cleaved straight down the middle into two halves.

Clap! Clap! Clap!

Outside the medicine room, Zhang Lata clapped and walked forward, gratification on his face. "You've finally made some progress. This old man's hard work hasn't gone to waste."

"Old Zhang, I'm pretty impressive, right? How about teaching me the third form?" Praised for once after so much effort, Li Ziye became a little carried away.

"Are you sure?" At his words, Zhang Lata's expression immediately turned strange.

"What, can't I?" Li Ziye asked in confusion.

"You can. Of course you can."

The corners of Zhang Lata's mouth curved slightly. Without refusing, he waved a hand and took hold of the sword. His feet moved swiftly, his sword strikes ferocious as a falling mountain, sweeping wide and powerful. Across twenty-seven steps, their domineering might was fully displayed.

After the demonstration, Zhang Lata withdrew his sword and tipped his head back for a mouthful of wine. With a smile that never reached his eyes, he said, "Practice, then. Master this third form, and no one below the Second Realm will be your match. Even if you really encounter someone like the Third Prince, who has opened his Second Divine Treasure, you'll be able to escape unscathed."

"It's that powerful!"

Delighted surprise appeared on Li Ziye's face, but he soon sensed something amiss. "Didn't you say that when cultivation differs by a whole major realm, no refinement of technique can bridge the gap?"

"There are always exceptions."

Zhang Lata smiled strangely. "Why is the Flying Immortal Art called the greatest art under heaven? Because a thousand years ago, the first Sword God used this sword art more than once to defeat opponents a whole major realm above him."

At this point, Zhang Lata paused slightly. Without his noticing, his smile gradually grew twisted, and he grinned. "Put it this way: the five martial realms and the Nine Flying Immortal Forms basically have a simple one-to-two relationship. For example, you're still in the First Realm, so at most, you can use the first two moves of the Flying Immortal Formula. Trying to master the third form, which belongs to the next major realm, is like dreaming in broad daylight. Without entering the Second Realm, neither the strength of your True Qi nor your control over your body is enough to support you through those twenty-seven steps. Of course, that Sword God a thousand years ago managed it. That was why he could fight opponents a whole major realm above him. If you think you can do it too, give it a try."

"I refuse to believe it."

Li Ziye gripped the sword and stared at the footprints on the ground, indignation rising within him.

Who are you looking down on!

Li Ziye circulated his True Qi and bravely took three steps.

Then...

"Old Zhang, save-!"

Moving at high speed, Li Ziye flew out uncontrollably. Before he could finish calling for help, he slammed headfirst into the inner courtyard's high wall.

Bang!

Half of Li Ziye's face and his entire body smashed straight into the wall. Then, his arms and legs spread wide, he fell straight backward.

"Oh? What happened here? Even if life's gotten too much for you, don't go banging your head against a wall!"

Zhang Lata walked over and looked at the youth sprawled on the ground, grinning. "Keep working hard. This old man has faith in you."

With that, Zhang La laughed heartily and left, carrying his wine jar.

Li Ziye lay on the ground, gritting his teeth in resentment. This was going too far!

"Young master!"

Just then, a pretty young maid hurried over from outside the inner courtyard. Seeing Li Ziye sprawled beneath the wall, she froze briefly, then forced back a smile. "There's a young lady named Zhangsun Nanqiao outside the residence asking to see you, young master. She specifically asked for you."

"Zhangsun Nanqiao? Looking for me?"

Beneath the wall, a strange look crossed Li Ziye's dust-covered face at her words. Why had that vixen come?

And she'd specifically asked for him. Didn't she know Sister Youwei managed all the Li Family's business?

The enemy was clearly trying to dismantle their resistance from within!

Was he the sort of person who could easily be tempted by beauty?

Indignant, Li Ziye sprang to his feet. "Invite her to the main hall. I'll go meet that she-devil once I've changed."

"Yes!"

The young maid pressed her lips together in a smile, then turned and left.

Before long, Zhangsun Nanqiao approached the main hall in a deep purple dress. Her hair was pinned high, dark tresses falling down, and her lovely face possessed both a young girl's beauty and a mature woman's charm.

It had to be said that Zhangsun Nanqiao was a woman who could truly set hearts stirring.

In the inner courtyard, Li Ziye changed his clothes and straightened his attire. Once again looking like a refined young gentleman, he headed toward the main hall.

"Sister Nanqiao, what brings you here in person?"

Li Ziye hurried into the main hall and looked at the woman before him, speaking warmly. "If anyone should be paying a visit, I should be visiting you!"

Hearing the youth address her even more intimately than before, Zhangsun Nanqiao's lips curved slightly. "I had nothing to do today, so I thought I'd come take a look at Li Garden. Young Master Li, I wonder how your consideration of my earlier proposal has gone?"

"Proposal?"

At her words, Li Ziye deliberately put on a puzzled expression. "What proposal?"

Zhangsun Nanqiao narrowed her eyes slightly and smiled. "The cooperation between the Zhangsun Family and the Li Family. Surely you haven't forgotten?"

"Oh, this memory of mine!"

Li Ziye looked as though realization had dawned, then put on a troubled expression. "Sister Nanqiao, you don't know this, but although I'm the Li Family's legitimate son, my eldest sister manages all our business affairs. At the last meeting between the four families, I was only accompanying her to broaden my horizons."

"Young Master Li, let's not speak in riddles."

A radiant smile appeared on Zhangsun Nanqiao's face. "Although Li Youwei manages the Li Residence's business, I believe you are the true master of Li Garden, with the absolute final say. As long as you speak, cooperation between the Li Family and the Zhangsun Family will follow as naturally as water flowing into a channel."

"Sister Nanqiao, you really do think highly of me."

Li Ziye picked up the hot tea on the table and savored a sip, smiling. "The tea is good. You should try some, Sister."

At his words, Zhangsun Nanqiao frowned slightly. She picked up the tea on the table and took a sip. "It is indeed good. As I recall, the Li Family's tea business already reaches every city in Great Shang. Even the Western Regions and the Northern Desert have begun to see Li Family shops."

"Is that so? I rarely ask about business matters, so I really don't know much about it," Li Ziye replied with a smile.

Zhangsun Nanqiao smiled. "Young Master Li, you still haven't answered my question."

"Sister Nanqiao, please don't make things difficult for me."

Li Ziye smiled wryly. "If I meddle in the Li Family's business as I please, it will put my eldest sister in a very difficult position."

"You little fellow, neither oil nor salt can get through to you."

A trace of helplessness crossed Zhangsun Nanqiao's beautiful face. A moment later, she gathered herself and smiled. "I heard you haven't been betrothed yet, Young Master Li. Would you like me to introduce someone?"

"I think you're quite lovely yourself, Sister."

Li Ziye began glibly flirting again, smiling as he spoke.

"If you're willing, Young Master Li, I have no objection."

Zhangsun Nanqiao smiled sweetly.

"I'm still young. Give me a few more years."

Li Ziye spoke somewhat bashfully.

"Not so little anymore."

Zhangsun Nanqiao swept a glance between the youth's legs and spoke meaningfully.

The smile on Li Ziye's face stiffened. Pervert!

"I hear you've been getting quite close to that little courtesan queen these past few days, Young Master Li. Be careful. I've heard her background is far from simple. Don't let someone use you." Zhangsun Nanqiao changed the subject and offered a warning.

"You mean Yu Qingxuan?"

A strange look flashed through Li Ziye's eyes. "Could you explain more clearly, Sister Nanqiao?"

"Reportedly, Yu Qingxuan has met the Eldest Prince several times. And on the night she appeared at the Flower Cultivation Garden, the Eldest Prince was there as well," Zhangsun Nanqiao said.

"The Eldest Prince?"

At her words, Li Ziye frowned slightly. "I've never even met the Eldest Prince. How could he be using me?"

"You are the Li Family's legitimate son, Young Master Li. The Li Family behind you could be called rich enough to rival a nation. If I were the Eldest Prince, I would certainly find a way to win you over."

Zhangsun Nanqiao smiled. "With the Li Family's support, the road toward competing for the position of crown prince would be much smoother."

"Sister Nanqiao, don't speak recklessly."

Li Ziye took a sip of tea and said mildly, "Naming an heir is His Majesty's business. The Li Family is merely an ordinary merchant family. We neither wish to nor have the ability to meddle in the succession."

"Although the Li Family can still only be considered a merchant family now, if you wish to take another step forward, Young Master Li, my Zhangsun Family can help."

Zhangsun Nanqiao finally stated her purpose. Looking at the youth before her, she said earnestly, "You should know the influence my Zhangsun Family wields at court. As long as you agree, the Li Family can immediately go from an established merchant family to a distinguished clan of power and privilege. You should understand the difference better than anyone."

At her words, Li Ziye fell silent.

This offer truly struck at the Li Family's vital point.

Scholars, farmers, artisans, merchants. The scholar clans whose members served as officials stood at the very top of Great Shang, while merchant families held lowly status.

This was also the greatest obstacle the Li Family had encountered in its development thus far.

They had no one at court!

Thus, the Li Family could only be considered an established merchant family, not a prestigious, distinguished clan.

Li Ziye seriously considered Zhangsun Nanqiao's proposal, weighing the gains and losses.

Zhangsun Nanqiao did not rush him either. She sat quietly, drinking the tea in her cup.

She knew the Li Family would certainly consider her proposal carefully.

On that point, she was quite confident.

Sure enough, before long, Li Ziye raised his head, a brilliant smile appearing on his face.

Seeing this, Zhangsun Nanqiao smiled as well.

It was done!

"Sister Nanqiao, I've decided I'd still rather become a sword immortal. An official career isn't for me," Li Ziye said, his face wreathed in smiles.

At his words, Zhangsun Nanqiao froze, and the smile gradually disappeared from her face.