Chapter 621 - 35: Kong Family of Book Mountain

Once he understood the method for crafting the mask, Li Ji’an also understood the reason behind the City Lord’s mansion being filled with wives and concubines, with almost every female cultivator residing in a room, nearly half of whom were pregnant.

Initially, Ning Sujin transmitted her thoughts to Li Ji’an, praising the Hundred-faced True Man for his life surrounded by descendants and owning a city.

After Li Ji’an pointed out the reasons to her, she instantly became sullen.

"I wonder what brings Fellow Daoist Chang’an to the Celestial River. If you need my assistance, feel free to instruct." After welcoming Li Ji’an and Ning Sujin to the main hall and serving spirit tea, the Hundred-faced True Man gently inquired Li Ji’an, his attitude kind.

Li Ji’an nodded in thanks, but he dared not touch the spirit tea brought to his hand.

Even though his divine sense at the late Core Formation stage detected no issues with the tea, he couldn’t be certain there weren’t methods unknown to him, so it wasn’t worth the risk.

"I came for the sole purpose of finding an elder, whose final severed contact happened within this area a month ago," Li Ji’an stated directly.

"Oh? Could it be within the Celestial River Immortal City?" The Hundred-faced True Man’s expression instantly turned serious, his gaze subconsciously evasive.

His wives and concubines in the courtyard were naturally not all willing followers; most were forcibly taken to propagate his lineage.

Although he would first ascertain their backgrounds before abducting them, avoiding those with True Man-level backgrounds, Li Ji’an’s visit made him sweat nervously.

"Approximately in this area." Sensing his expression, Li Ji’an’s heart tightened.

"Does Fellow Daoist have a portrait?" The Hundred-faced True Man appeared somewhat uneasy.

Without waiting for Li Ji’an to act, Ning Sujin already conjured an image using magical power, forming a watercolor portrait.

"So this is your elder?" At the sight of the portrait, the Hundred-faced True Man’s expression suddenly relaxed.

"Have you met her?"

"Not only have I met her, but I had the fortune of encountering this Fairy. However, I remember she left this place several years ago, how could she be here again?" the Hundred-faced True Man replied, smiling as he stroked his beard.

Several years ago, when Ning Yutan first entered the Celestial River Immortal City, she caught his attention.

After all, her looks and demeanor were both remarkable, and her cultivation already at the late Foundation Establishment stage, holding hope for him to bear offspring.

However, after sensing with the secret technique for progeny, he unexpectedly found her essence qi far surpassed ordinary Core Formation True Men, and he immediately abandoned such thoughts.

Precisely capturing the Hundred-faced True Man’s emotional shifts, Li Ji’an’s heart eased slightly, at least confirming she wasn’t harmed by the person before him.

"Do you have any other related information?" Li Ji’an continued to ask cordially.

The Hundred-faced True Man furrowed his brows for a moment, then suddenly raised his gaze, "Fellow Daoist Chang’an might consider visiting the Kong Family."

"Kong Family?"

"The Kong Family of the Mountain of Books and Sea of Learning Dao Field."

Upon hearing this, Li Ji’an involuntarily raised his brow.

Not only did he know the Kong Family from the Mountain of Books and Sea of Learning, but he also had dealings with them in a previous life.

In the past, his first visit to Dao Source State with Qin Henian was to the Kong Family.

Merely a Fake Pill Clan, the Kong Family managed to occupy the Tier Three Dao Field of the Mountain of Books and Sea of Learning for thousands of years, with no one daring to act arrogantly, due to their ancestor who once compiled the biography of the True Monarch of Ten Thousand Laws and gained fame.

The Mountain of Books and Sea of Learning has long been under the protection of the Ten Thousand Laws Palace, thus they rest easy.

However, what surprised Li Ji’an somewhat was that despite being staunch supporters of the Ten Thousand Laws Palace, they were not cleared by demon cultivators from the Two Domains and could continue to hold their ground in the Mountain of Books and Sea of Learning Dao Field?

"What connection could there be?" Li Ji’an was unclear about the connection between Ning Yutan and the Kong Family.

The Hundred-faced True Man shook his head with a bitter smile, "Back then, this Fairy Ning, for unknown reasons, was incited to conflict with the Kong Family, even publicly accusing them of their shamelessness."

"Shamelessness?" Li Ji’an chuckled slightly, already coming to an understanding.

"Haha, although Fairy Ning’s words were somewhat crude, the Kong Family indeed issued an unmatched article the night the Corpse Puppet Sect invaded the Ten Thousand Laws Sect. Based on facts, they argued for the merit and contribution of the Golden Puppet Holy Monarch to the cultivation realm, and they revised the cultivation history of the Celestial Cyan Domain," the Hundred-faced True Man added.

"Truly a millennium-old family!" Li Ji’an internally praised.

"Did the Kong Family take any action against my elder?"

The Hundred-faced True Man shook his head, "At the time, she was within my Immortal City, and no excessive measures were taken. As for what happened afterward, I’m unsure. However, the Kong Family had their then master, an older generation, whose life was nearing its end, and they were keen to cultivate the next generation of True Man successors, likely avoiding conflict with this Fairy Ning, a late Foundation Establishment cultivator."

Li Ji’an then thanked him and left directly for the Kong Family Mountain of Books and Sea of Learning Dao Field.

"Husband, now that you know the villainy, will you turn a blind eye?" After leaving the Celestial River Immortal City, Ning Sujin was silent for a long time and couldn’t help but ask.

Li Ji’an pondered slightly, his expression calm yet unprecedentedly solemn, "Sujin, your heart is kind, you detest evil, I understand, but even a compassionate heart needs thunderous means."

"You and I are far from being able to control the world and punish evil with leisure. We cannot completely deal with the evil here."

"The compassionate heart must be hidden for now, and we must strive to accumulate thunderous means."

"As long as the current evil doesn’t affect our path, we can temporarily remember it."

"When the day comes when we possess the absolute strength to effortlessly eradicate its evil, only then is the best time to strike."

Of course, if one is like Yutan with no hope for advancement, dying in pursuit of righteousness could also be seen as obtaining true peace."

Were it not for Ning Sujin, he wouldn’t explain so gravely, as the cultivation realm’s values were not about good and evil, only strength.

But he still had something different.

Despite having lived six lives in this realm, the values before his crossing remained firm.

The concepts of good and evil were evident in his heart, and he never subscribed to the paradox of existence.

Upon hearing, Ning Sujin’s eyes gradually brightened.

Li Ji’an’s image in her mind became clearer.

Once she thought Li Ji’an was merely afraid of dying.

This was natural.

Then she witnessed his thunderous methods, thinking he was changing gradually.

But now she truly understood Li Ji’an’s intentions.

He hadn’t changed, and he always acted according to his will.

"Husband, I finally understand you," Ning Sujin nodded solemnly, not only understanding Li Ji’an’s true intent but also agreeing with his principles.

"Hmm." Li Ji’an smiled contentedly, pulling her into his embrace.

Three days later, a mountain carved into an ancient scroll appeared in view, with golden lacquer and ink, the words Mountain of Books and Sea of Learning visible from afar.

Li Ji’an brought Ning Sujin to land outside its protective grand array.

"The visit of the True Man makes my Mountain of Books shine brightly, an honor beyond measure." The moment after, the light from the protective array flickered, and a group of people emerged from afar to welcome them.