novelraw Chapter 275 252: Congratulations from Various Families
Chapter 275 252: Congratulations from Various Families
Yu Xiaogui rode the wind back to Secret Forest County, and just as he crested a hilltop, he saw the ground alight with beacon fires and bloodstains, collapsed buildings of all types strewn about. His heart skipped a beat; he quickly descended, standing there in a daze.
The entire market had collapsed into ruins, limbs lay about everywhere, with only flickering flames still burning. Half-dried blood shone conspicuously on the ground where bodies were piled up haphazardly.
For a moment, Yu Xiaogui's mind went blank, overwhelmed by grief and anger, his heart ached as numerous questions flashed through his mind.
"How did Fei Wangbai break through Jade Court's Great Formation... How is that possible..."
This skepticism lasted only a second in his mind before another more terrifying, heart-wrenching suspicion entered his thoughts. Yu Xiaogui exclaimed in shock,
"Big Brother!"
Without hesitation, he soared into the sky, flying towards the highest hall. The once-lavish hall had collapsed, reduced to rubble. Yu Xiaogui hurriedly landed in front of the hall. Before he even pushed the door open, his exceptional Spiritual Sense as a Foundation Establishment Immortal Cultivator let him see the kneeling corpses on the ground.
"Big Brother..."
Yu Xiaogui placed his hand on the door, cried out in pain, and with a palm strike, he shattered the door. He stumbled and knelt before Yu Xiao'ao, filled with endless regret and sorrow, his face, typically expressionless and somber, finally showed a range of emotions.
"This… this..."
The destruction of the entire market was nothing compared to the pain Yu Xiaogui felt from Yu Xiao'ao's death. The blood on the pierced body of Yu Xiao'ao had already dried, and the old man's face still wore a gentle smile. Yu Xiaogui's expression became one of stunned realization; tears streamed down as he ground his teeth and said,
"Fei Wangbai..."
————
Li Tongya rode the wind away, naturally leaving Li Xuanxuan behind to take care of the affairs, to sort out these miscellaneous matters. Jade Court Mountain did not have many large Spiritual Fields, but Huazhong Mountain was indeed a treasure land. Once the Great Formation was set up, the problem of insufficient Spirit Veins for the Li Family's cultivation would be much alleviated, with even an excess to spare.
An Zhiyan and others rode the wind back to Huaqian Mountain. The blood on Huazhong Mountain was once again cleaned up, restoring the beautiful scenery of the Immortal Mountain's Spirit Veins. The autumn wind blew at random, leaves fluttered down, conveying a sense of peace and tranquility.
"Congratulations to Taoist Fellow! Congratulations to the noble family!"
Li Xuanxuan approached briskly, facing an old man with bushy eyebrows and a rugged complexion, holding a staff. Observing his Cultivation Level, he was also a Qi Cultivating Peak cultivator. However, his brows were tinged with sorrow, straining to maintain composure as he cheerfully offered his congratulations.
"For Senior Ding Xiding to come all this way personally is really too kind."
Li Xuanxuan respectfully gestured with his hands, the man before him being Ding Xiding, the Family Head of the western Ding Family, who had taken over Wangyue Lake after dividing up the Lu Family. Back then, Li Tongya personally received him, and now that Li Xuanxuan had reached the Fifth Layer of Qi Training and Li Tongya had achieved Foundation Establishment, not being in the mountain himself, the honors given by Li Xuanxuan's reception were just right.
"Senior Tongya's breakthrough to Foundation Establishment truly fills us with admiration. Today, I've come to present a congratulatory gift. Our families have been friends for over a decade—may our friendship endure forever."
Ding Xiding's complexion was somewhat pale. When he first entered the Li Family's domain, he was at the Qi Cultivating Peak, while Li Tongya was only in the Fifth Layer of Qi Training. Now that Li Tongya had broken through to Foundation Establishment, and he was still at the Qi Cultivating Peak, it was impossible not to feel envious. Nevertheless, he maintained a warm smile on his face and spoke pleasantly as he presented a Jade Box.
"How could we possibly accept that?!"
Li Xuanxuan waved his hands in refusal, his Spiritual Sense swiftly scanning the contents of the Jade Box. Knowing that it contained a Qi Cultivation Level Spiritual Object, which wasn't something too extravagant, it was sufficient as a congratulatory gift. After a round of polite refusal, he graciously accepted it.
The Li Family had now acquired the peaks of Huazhong and Jade Court, effectively blocking the Ding Family's access to Wangyue Lake, growing mighty in strength. Ding Xiding dared not speak rashly and could only try to ingratiate himself.
In the past, the Ding Family had two Qi Cultivators at the peak of their power. One was Ding Xiding, and the other was his son, who also had good talent, reaching the peak of Qi Cultivation at fifty-eight.
After so many years, the Ding Family had finally produced a seedling for Foundation Establishment. Ding Xiding would not give up so easily. He was overjoyed, scouring for spiritual objects and treasures everywhere hoping to aid his son's breakthrough, aiming to cultivate a Foundation Establishment Immortal Cultivator while the An Family, Li Family, and Yu Family were plotting against each other.
The Ding Family had silently holed up over these years, dedicating their efforts to assist in the breakthrough. Contrary to their wishes, the son, after many years in seclusion, remained silent, and months ago, Ding Xiding entered his son's retreat only to find a skeleton and dried puddles of blood on the ground.
Ding Xiding was overwhelmed with grief, and even dared not make a fuss about it. He could only bury his son quietly. After laying his eldest son to rest, Ding Xiding also heard that the Li Family was advancing northward, completely sealing the Ding Family's way out. From then on, the Ding Family was trapped between the two colossal entities of the Li Family and the Yuan Family, their future bleak, unable to do as they pleased anymore.
Ding Xiding, repressing his sorrow, hastily came to pay a visit. Naturally, the old man had a pale face, his brows brimming with worry. After exchanging a few words with Li Xuanxuan, a loud voice came from outside the formation:
"Yuan Huyuan of the Yuan Family has come to pay respects to Elder Tongya! Please open the mountain gate!"
"Ah!"
Ding Xiding's face slightly changed color, and he bowed his head even more, as if he wanted to bury his head into his chest. The Ding Family was a vassal to the Yuan Family, so encountering a member of the Yuan Family in such circumstances was not a good thing. Li Xuanxuan, seeing his embarrassment, said gently:
"It would be best for the elder to sit in the side hall..."
"That would be for the best, for the best!"
Ding Xiding hurried off, and Li Xuanxuan then operated the Great Formation. A man in a long robe descended outside, his demeanor gentle, appearing honest and sincere. He stepped forward with a salute, and upon close examination, smiled and said:
"Could it be Taoist Fellow Xuanxuan from back then?"
"There's no need for formalities, just call me Xuanxuan!"
With the Yuan Family's formidable strength, Li Xuanxuan's attitude became much more reverent, treating the seemingly aged visitor with courtesy. Yuan Huyuan chuckled and said:
"I am Yuan Huyuan from the Mushroom Forest Plain, I have met Taoist Fellow! Congratulations to Elder Tongya for achieving Immortal Foundation and making great strides in cultivation!"
News from the Li Family had just arrived; the Yuan Family must have also just received the news, and they immediately sent Yuan Huyuan to offer their congratulations, clearly signaling a gesture of goodwill. Li Xuanxuan returned the greeting with a bow:
"My uncle is out on affairs and made the elder take the trip in vain, my apologies!"
"Not at all, not at all!"
Yuan Huyuan waved his hands repeatedly, laughing and saying:
"Speaking of which, I have a fateful connection with your esteemed family. Back when the Sword Immortal returned home, he landed in my Mushroom Forest Plain, and it was I who sent him back to Lijing. Who would have thought that in the blink of an eye, several decades would pass, and the Sword Immortal has become famous across the Four Territories, while I am still a Qi Cultivator. When the Sword Immortal achieves Zifu, I can then boast about it to others!"
Yuan Huyuan intended his words as a compliment, but they only made Li Xuanxuan feel a pang of heartache, although he couldn't show it. He could only laugh along in agreement. Seeing that his flattery had little effect, Yuan Huyuan slapped his brocade bag and took out a long, flat Jade Box, starting:
"Our family's patriarch remembers the sibling relationship of master and disciple between the Sword Immortal and Sister Yuan Tuan, and specifically asked me to present this gift!"