novelraw Chapter 316 - 289 Engagement
Chapter 316 - 289 Engagement
The flesh and bones in the air swiftly congealed into shackles, securing the limbs of the black-clad cultivator below. Jiang Yan completed the final gestures for the spell, and the black-clad cultivator was already in a state of shock and despair. He watched as the black snake slithered around his neck and hissed,
"Since the elder knows that I am from Witch Mountain and is aware of many secrets, you should also know that even if I can’t defeat you, I have many ways to ensure we both perish!"
The black-clad cultivator’s expression was resolute as he stared at the slowly approaching ferocious black snake; however, unexpectedly, the snake hissed and let out a cold laugh, responding,
"Why don’t you give it a try?"
The black-clad cultivator glared angrily, but soon, his expression changed drastically as he exclaimed in shock,
"This... ’Drinking of the People’s Blood’! How is this possible?!... You!"
Deeps reds of mysterious Dharma Light began to radiate suddenly from his body, obediently flowing towards Jiang Boqing, dancing and spiraling around the serpent without end.
"Why would it be impossible?"
Jiang Boqing hissed, and the ferocity in his voice gradually subsided, he said indifferently,
"I, too, once pursued the ’Witch Mountain’s Three Nines Blood Essence’, although I later abandoned my cultivation to focus on other paths, and I am far stronger than you, a half-baked practitioner."
The black-clad cultivator was already wailing incoherently, unable to speak, while Jiang Boqing’s voice was full of enjoyment, he said cheerfully,
"’Drinking of the People’s Blood’ still remembers this old fellow, yet holds such contempt for you!"
Jiang Yan silently watched the drama unfold above, he said languidly,
"Master! Didn’t you want that Thunder-Attribute Immortal Foundation? What attribute does this ’Drinking of the People’s Blood’ belong to...?"
The black snake straightened up and finally transformed into a black-colored long whip, slowly falling downwards. A dark cloud rose on the face of the black-clad cultivator, who dumbly muttered,
"Let’s use this body first! Although Duanmu Kui is dead, and no one cultivates the ’Witch Mountain’s Three Nines Blood Essence’ anymore, the ’Answer to the Beggar Child Beneath the Mulberry Tree’ has vanished without a trace. Where can I find the remaining Immortal Foundations? There’s no way forward in cultivating ’Drinking of the People’s Blood’."
"Let’s use this body to get around, and when we find a good one, we’ll replace it!"
Jiang Yan nodded and heard Jiang Boqing’s eerie voice above,
"After all, it’s a Foundation Establishment Cultivation. It’s not easy to take over. Guard for me a little while."
And so, the black-clad cultivator collapsed to the ground, engulfed by rolling black clouds. Jiang Yan nonchalantly took a few steps, removed the black gourd from the cultivator’s waist, he softly chuckled and said,
"Blood Evil and grudges, it really couldn’t be more fitting."
Jiang Yan’s tone was light, but his eyes were full of suspicion. He weighed the gourd in his hand, removed the lid, glanced at the bright red Evil Qi inside, then sat cross-legged. With his fingers joint at the brow, he summoned a glittering Talisman.
This Talisman was golden yellow, shimmering with Dharma Light. Jiang Yan poured out the Blood Evil and silently began to refine it.
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Wutu Mountain was close to Lijing Mountain. It took Li Yuanjiao only half an incense stick’s time to arrive by riding the wind. Upon landing on the mountain, Li Yuanping and Li Qingxiao stood up and respectfully said,
"Eldest brother/Yuanjiao!"
Li Yuanjiao had a gleaming look in his eyes and an impressive vigor about him, indicating that over the past couple of years, with the help of the Cultivating Qi Devouring Spirit Talisman and focused cultivation on Wutu Mountain, he had made substantial progress. He nodded towards his younger siblings.
Chen Donghe and his wife were nearby and quickly returned to Lijing Mountain. Li Jingtian looked worried, while Chen Donghe was quiet and contemplative.
As they talked, their minds were obviously elsewhere, all waiting for their eldest sister, Li Qinghong, to arrive. After waiting for a long time without seeing her heroic figure, someone came to report after half an hour at the front courtyard and said,
"Jade Court Peak reports that the Immortal Master closed herself off yesterday in an attempt to breakthrough to the Third Layer of Qi Cultivation and has not left the residence. I think she is at the critical moment of the breakthrough and did not dare to knock on the door, so I had to come back to report!"
"Qinghong is attempting a breakthrough..."
The group exchanged looks, and Li Jingtian was the first to become impatient. After all, this was his daughter. He said softly,
"Qingxiao, come with me inside."
Having said that, he nodded slightly to the others, smiling,
"My daughter and I have some private words to discuss. Please wait a moment."
Several people nodded in agreement, and as the mother and daughter entered the room, Li Yuanjiao clasped his hands together and asked,
"Uncle, what do you think?"
Chen Donghe simply shook his head and said softly,
"I have heard of this Xiao Xian. He seems conscientious. I have only this one daughter, Qingxiao. I do not ask for Xiao Xian to achieve the Immortal Law or refine the Immortal Foundation, as long as he does not mistreat my child."
Chen Donghe spoke gently but his expression was resolute. Having broken through to the Fourth Layer of Qi Cultivation in recent years, he could be considered a stable pillar of the Li Family. Raised in honor for many years, he naturally carried a sense of authority as he said with gravity,
"Should Qingxiao take a liking, I shall have no objection to this marriage."
Yuanping and Yuanjiao, the two brothers, exchanged glances. Li Yuanjiao then spoke up,
"Uncle, rest assured, the lineage from Yu Mountain would not dare to treat Qingxiao poorly. Should this affair come to pass, it will certainly be with the grandeur of a ten-mile bridal procession, with various cultivators leading the way!"
While the men were discussing outside, inside the room, Li Qingxiao followed her mother, Li Jingtian, in. Li Jingtian pulled her daughter to sit down and said with a hint of urgency,
"This matter is of great importance; have you thought it through clearly?"
Li Qingxiao lowered her head and replied quietly,
"If we reject this Xiao Xian, not to mention the family’s embarrassment, could Mother find a better candidate?"
Li Jingtian’s brow furrowed, and after opening her mouth and then shaking her head, she said,
"Affairs of men and women have always been about mutual consent, not whether he is good or not, but whether you are willing... The family has always been against forcing marriages; if you so desire, even if you were to marry a commoner without a Spirit Aperture, your parents could manage the family affairs for you."
Li Qingxiao blinked and then suddenly laughed lightly, saying with a charming smile,
"Let alone a commoner, I don’t take any of the clans with watchful eyes seriously. Mother is joking. We are not in a storybook, after all; naturally, we observe the principle of matching social status. As for whether there is interest or not..."
"Given our family’s current status, how many families are there to form marital ties with? And how many are bold enough to do so? Across the vast distances, it would already be rare to meet once before the wedding, not to mention having romantic feelings. It all comes down to appearance and conduct!"
Li Jingtian knew this too, but concern overwhelmed her judgment. With a soft sigh, Li Qingxiao lowered her head, her tone calm and rational as she paused before saying,
"Xiao Xian has given enough respect; there is no need to be too particular. It’s better to keep some things ambiguous in life."
After a private conversation, the mother and daughter exited the room. Li Qingxiao smiled warmly and agreed to the matter. Li Yuanjiao smiled and said,
"Then I will immediately inform the elder and send a letter to Guanyun Peak... to finalize this matter."
Everyone nodded, but someone hurriedly approached from outside. He looked at the group in the courtyard, hesitated for a moment, then went over to Li Yuanjiao, bowed deeply, and said respectfully,
"Young masters, the Xiao Family has sent someone saying there is a change within the clan."
"Who has come?"
Li Yuanjiao asked, and the clan soldier replied,
"The eldest son of the Xiao Family, Xiao Guitu."
"Xiao Guitu!"
Li Yuanjiao exchanged a glance with Li Yuanping, bowed to Mr. and Mrs. Li Jingtian, and hurried off.
After seeing them off, Chen Donghe sat down in the room. Li Jingtian nudged her husband and, watching as Li Qingxiao went out to tidy up the books, whispered,
"That Xiao Xian may be good, but he lacks ambition. Calculative yet not decisive, I’m afraid he won’t amount to much."
"Amount to much..."
Chen Donghe shook his head and stored the sword from his waist into a brocade sheath, saying softly,
"Being honest and living a good life is sufficient; what need is there for greatness? An eagle soaring too high can be swiftly brought down by a hunter, leaving my daughter alone. What then?"
Li Jingtian shook her head, her voice tinged with worry,
"There’s no telling. If one doesn’t soar high, does it mean there will be no grievances?"