All Are Fish and Meat

"That's right. The person said the value of this place wasn't even worth his trip down the mountain. Then he lectured me a bit before leaving."

Hearing this, the cultivators following behind exchanged glances, all wearing wry, self-deprecating smiles.

A place they couldn't even be bothered with was somewhere they had traveled thousands of miles to reach.

Li Cheng, however, dismissively pouted, "Isn't that better? If cultivators at the Essence Condensation stage don't care about it, it means the ancient tomb is perfect for us to explore. Besides, without those troublesome sect disciples, our actions will be much more convenient."

Upon arriving at the courtyard, the Li Family cultivators, led by Li Cheng, were immediately surrounded.

"Young Master Li, I am from the Fang Family of Liuyun Town..."

"Greetings, Young Master. My daughter comes from the Bei Wu Ye Family..."

"Young Master Li, you are talented and your cultivation is profound, truly befitting of a noble family! You are a role model for us all!"

Li Cheng was already very familiar with such situations and handled them flawlessly, fending off the cultivators surrounding him in just a few words.

Yang Lingrui had been waiting. Seeing that most people had dispersed, he stepped forward to pay his respects.

"From the Songshan Yang Family, Yang Lingrui, greetings, Young Master Li."

"The Yang Family, you are the one..."

Li Cheng turned, about to speak, but stopped mid-sentence as he got a clear look at Yang Lingrui.

"What an upright and transcendent aura!"

"He doesn't look old, and his Third Level of Qi Gathering cultivation is quite outstanding. He's also handsome!"

His gaze swept over Yang Lingrui several times, and the more he looked, the more satisfied he became.

"Elder Yu mentioned before that the Yang Family decided to establish itself because a junior relative condensed a Qi Mansion."

Li Cheng asked, "He was talking about you, wasn't he?"

"Indeed."

Yang Lingrui nodded and said, "Before leaving for this trip, Ancestor Yu instructed me that if I met Young Master Li, I must thank you properly. You greatly helped us that day at the marketplace by buying all our goods in one go."

"Hahaha, Elder Yu is as polite as ever. Those few items are nothing."

Li Cheng waved his hand, then suddenly changed the subject and asked, "Lingrui, how old are you this year?"

"Ah? I'm fourteen this year."

Yang Lingrui was stunned upon hearing the question. Although he didn't understand why Li Cheng was asking, he still replied.

"Oh, oh~ Fourteen, huh. Hmm, not bad."

As he spoke, he pulled Yang Lingrui to a corner of the courtyard and said in a low voice, "Actually, to tell you the truth, I have a sister who just turned fifteen this year, only a year older than you."

Yang Lingrui's eyes widened, and he was momentarily dazed.

But he quickly reacted, his cheeks instantly flushing red.

"Ah, this... um, Young Master Li, I... I..."

"Shush, shush, shush, it's okay, it's okay, don't be nervous."

Seeing that he had flustered the young man, Li Cheng quickly soothed him, "Don't panic. I just think you're a good kid and had this idea. Whether it works out or not is another matter."

Yang Lingrui's heart lightened upon hearing this, and he breathed a sigh of relief.

If Li Cheng had been serious and gone through with it, he really wouldn't have known how to react.

"Fellow Daoists, please lend me your ears for a moment."

After everyone had chatted for a while, Duan Yong walked to the center of the courtyard. "The ancient tomb has appeared in my Fengling. I am deeply grateful to all of you for traveling thousands of miles to assist."

"Based on past experience, the deeper the ancient tomb, the more treasures it holds. However, the deeper you go, the more dangerous it becomes. I hope all fellow Daoists will act according to your abilities."

"Everyone is here today, so rest well. Tomorrow at noon, I will lead you all to explore the ancient tomb."

That evening, Yang Lingrui and Zhao Qi returned to their room early to rest.

"Senior Brother, I've inquired about everything. There are a total of thirty-seven people on this trip, including three cultivators at the Qi Gathering Mid-stage. That Li Cheng is at the peak of the Sixth Level of Qi Gathering. The other two are Huang Yan from Fengling Town, at the Fourth Layer of Qi Gathering, and Zheng Huaming from Liuyun Town, also at the Fourth Layer of Qi Gathering."

Zhao Qi informed Yang Lingrui of the news he had gathered today. "I've observed both of them, and their strength should be inferior to yours, Senior Brother."

As he spoke, he took out a scroll from his embrace. When unfurled, it was densely packed with the names, origins, and cultivation realms of all thirty-seven people on the trip.

After Yang Lingrui looked it over, he felt reassured. "I've never been good at remembering these things. I'll trouble you, Junior Brother Zhao, for your diligence."

"Why are you being so polite with me, Senior Brother? Just give me any orders you have." Zhao Qi chuckled.

"Hmm... Speaking of which, there is indeed something today that has puzzled me."

"Ah? What could possibly stump Senior Brother?"

Yang Lingrui then recounted what Li Cheng had said to him.

The result was that two children who had never experienced romance found themselves staring blankly at each other in the room.

"Hmm... Senior Brother, although I don't understand all that romantic stuff, I have a feeling this matter is not simple," Zhao Qi said.

Yang Lingrui agreed. "I think so too. The Li Family is powerful and has sect backing. Why would they approach me, or rather, why would they take a liking to my Yang Family?"

Both of them knew that although the Yang Family had developed rapidly in recent years, the Li Family could crush them with just one cultivator at the Late Qi Gathering stage.

"If it were just about talent and appearance, I wouldn't believe it. The Li Family wouldn't consider things so simply."

Yang Lingrui remained clear-headed, not believing he possessed the ability to attract the Li Family's attention.

"If that's the case, then Senior Brother, I have an idea."

"What idea? Tell me."

Zhao Qi stroked his chin and said, "Li Cheng met you for the first time. Even with Ancestor Yu's old connection, proposing this matter seems a bit too hasty. Do you think something might have happened to his Li Family?"

While Yang Lingrui and Zhao Qi were guessing in the room, Li Cheng and two confidants returned to their quarters to rest on the other side.

"Gulp, gulp... Ah! Good wine!"

Li Cheng took a large gulp of wine and asked the two in front of him, "How is it? What do you two think of that kid I took a liking to?"

"Uh... cough, cough, that kid is fine on his own, but isn't there too much of a difference between the Yang Family and our family?" one person said.

Another nodded, "Moreover, this matter still requires asking Miss's own opinion. It's not quite right for Young Master to make such a decision."

"Sigh, I get it. You guys just want to say that the Yang Family is too weak and unworthy, and that my sister should also choose someone she likes." Li Cheng seemed a bit drunk, speaking hazily.

"That's what we mean."

"Alright, alright, are you drinking or not?"

"The Patriarch ordered that we are not to drink alcohol on this trip."

"Tch, boring. Let's go back and rest. Remember to wake me up tomorrow."

Seeing him like this, the two seemed accustomed to it and withdrew.

The moment his confidants left the room, wine was drawn from Li Cheng's fingertips and poured back into the wine jar.

The flush on his face faded, and his eyes, which had been muddled moments ago, became clear.

"Talking about being worthy or not! How ridiculous! Does my Li Family possess any earth-shattering power?"

"Choose for yourself... At this point, how many options are there to choose from!"

"With so many eyes watching from above, even the Old Ancestor, would he dare make any rash moves?"

"Essence Condensation... If we can't achieve Essence Condensation, aren't we all just meat on a chopping block, merely differing in size!"

At this moment, Li Cheng's demeanor was completely different from his usual carefree and unrestrained self. His fists were clenched so tightly that veins bulged, his teeth gnashed, and his eyes were bloodshot.

Others might not know, but he was a direct descendant of the Li Family and understood the inside story.

Regarding the matter of quelling the rebellion, the Li Family had left an Old Ancestor to guard it, seemingly using the sect's background to smooth things over.

But in reality, this was merely a transaction from the Dynasty to the sect, a case of the left hand passing to the right!

The Li Family's Old Ancestor had long lost his choice; whether he stayed or left depended on whose hands it fell into.

"After living a peaceful life for too long, have you forgotten how my Li Family rose to power?"

"Do you really think the Li Family's current status is so secure?"

"A few words of flattery from others calling you a 'noble family,' and you truly believe you've become one? Utterly foolish!"

"If even the slightest thing goes wrong, they'll erase your Li Family today, and tomorrow the Zhou Family, Sun Family, or Zhu Family will rise again..."

Every time he thought of this, Li Cheng felt a throbbing pain in his head.

He had brought this up at home long ago, but those elders were now so focused on climbing the social ladder that they couldn't listen.

Although the Li Family appeared peaceful on the surface, if the Old Ancestor suffered the slightest mishap, it would be eternal damnation.

It was precisely for this reason that Li Cheng kept finding various opportunities to go out and make friends, hoping to find a turning point or a way out for his family.