Chapter 493 392 Meng Taizhi

Li Yuanjiao and Fei Luoya exchanged a few words, and both were in good spirits, their smiles warm and enthusiastic. Zhu Xian and Li Wushao, the two attendants, followed behind them as they flew out of the Great Jue Court together.

Seeing Fei Luoya scrutinizing the surroundings, Li Yuanjiao asked,

"The Great Jue Court up to the Eastern Shanyue is thriving with lush forests and fertile land. How do you plan to deal with it, Taoist Fellow?"

Fei Luoya looked at Li Yuanjiao with his vertical pupils and answered leisurely,

"Previously, because the hidden menaces lay nearby, I was always thinking of fleeing and never managed the Shanyue under my command, leaving them to their own devices. Now that I have such a vast territory, naturally I want to promote a few subordinates, gather Spiritual Objects, hunt demonic beasts, and cultivate Spirit Rice. Each year I should be able to earn some Spirit Stones..."

Li Yuanjiao agreed with a smile and said,

"My family is best at this. Why not split this land between us? You provide the land, and we provide the people. With my family's methods, in ten years we could profit by more than twenty Spirit Stones annually..."

"Oh?"

Fei Luoya nodded lightly, asked around the topic, and then brought up the news about Green Pond Sect's Qingdu Peak. Li Yuanjiao saw that Fei Luoya had no intention of cooperating, gave a few perfunctory responses, and took his leave.

Li Wushao followed in silence, and once they were a hundred miles out, he finally spoke,

"Master, how serious are your injuries?"

Li Yuanjiao had just been struck by the Dual Sword Strike from the hidden enemy, which had scared Li Wushao to the core. Since his own Spirit Nature was still in Li Yuanjiao's hands, if anything happened to Li Yuanjiao, Li Wushao's own life would be at stake.

Li Yuanjiao waved his hand dismissively and answered,

"No harm done. Once we return to the peak and enter seclusion, you should take the Precious Medicine 'Clear Cloud Elk Fruit' and cultivate your hooks."

"Many thanks, Master!"

Hearing this, Li Wushao was ecstatic and kept thanking him profusely, to which Li Yuanjiao replied,

"You are now one of the Li Family; no need for so many thanks."

Just as master and servant had left the Great Jue Court by a hundred miles, a young man in white came towards them riding the wind. He was elegant and poised, a sword on his back, and he greeted them with a bow,

"Congratulations, Uncle, on eliminating a threat."

This was none other than Li Xijun. Li Yuanjiao glanced at him and asked in doubt,

"Is there an issue at home? What brings you out here?"

Li Xijun softly said,

"I feared Fei Luoya might be deceitful and resorted to killing, so I couldn't be at ease and watched from afar."

Li Yuanjiao looked back and then added,

"We're more than a hundred miles away, and there's the protection of the Great Formation. Could you still see anything?"

Li Xijun nodded, the air of frost and snow flowing in his eyes, creating a misty scene as he answered,

"Thanks to the tutelage from 'Bright Frost Pine Ridge,' my Eyesight Power is extremely strong. I can see through illusions and probe the minute details. Even if hindered by Great Formations, I can still vaguely peer through and discern the flow of Dharma Light to assess the situation."

Li Yuanjiao then showed his pleasure, nodding in approval as he said,

"Not bad, such Talisman Qi has its wonders. When we get home, you should study 'Clear Vision Spiritual Pupil.' If you can practice the Pupil Technique with half the effort, and if you manage to master it, it will become even more magical."

Seeing Li Xijun nod, Li Yuanjiao continued,

"Fei Luoya doesn't wish for our family to intervene. If we could send our people to manage that land, we could surely earn a greater income."

Li Xijun pondered for a moment, grasped the implication, and said in a low voice,

"Uncle need not worry. Fei Luoya does not understand the difficulties of governance. He's alone; where will he find the manpower to oversee everything? Blinded by the prospect of gain, he thinks that just by promoting a few Qi Cultivators he can handle it all. Once he runs into obstacles, in the end, he will still come seeking our family's help."

Li Yuanjiao nodded, agreeing naturally,

"That makes sense. The customs of the Shanyue are hard to change; they are greedy and lack respect. Our Eastern Shanyue could only achieve such revenue after strict discipline from two Jade Courtyard Guards and twelve Yujing, working tirelessly day and night. Fei Luoya won't be able to handle this, and facing losses is inevitable."

After the uncle and nephew conversed for a while, they descended back on Qingdu Peak. Li Xijun rolled up his sleeves with a certain formal air and said,

"Uncle! Our family has already moved into Qingdu. Among the Loose Cultivators, many now call us the Qingdu Li Family. Our position as one of the Noble Families is becoming more solidified; the old connection with Lijing is becoming misleading. Perhaps it's time for a change."

Li Yuanjiao was not particularly concerned about these things. Whether it was Qingdu or Lijing, to him they all seemed just titles. He replied,

"Do as you wish; once it's decided, that will suffice."

Master, servant, and the beast settled on the peak. In front of the courtyard, a little girl was squatting. Seeing the two men, she ran up gleefully,

"Father! Brother!"

"Xiang'er."

Li Yuanjiao had only had this daughter in recent years, and he was actually very fond of her. However, due to the consecutive breakthroughs, seclusions, and vanquishing demons, he rarely even saw her, which led to a growing estrangement between father and daughter.

Li Yuexiang cheerfully took Li Xijun's hand, evidently much closer to him. Watching this scene, Li Yuanjiao felt that Li Xijun was quite different from before, and he commented,

"Jun'er, you've certainly grown up."

Li Xijun responded with a smile and gently said,

"Uncle...next year, Xiang'er will undergo Spirit Aperture testing. I wonder what her talents will be..."

Li Xijun's face showed a gentle and indulgent expression, and Li Yuanjiao suddenly remembered Li Xihong and Li Ximing. These few people were all calm and easygoing, unlike his own fierce demeanor.

'One by one, they're all becoming more like the young scions of the outside Noble Families.'

Li Yuanjiao watched silently. The members of the Li family, having emerged from humble origins and with shallow foundations, had gained prominence through ruthlessness, resembling the uneasy ostentation of poor people who had suddenly come into wealth. For three generations, they were scarcely benevolent.

Now...the generation of Xijun and Yuexiang were gradually acquiring the poise and composure of Noble Family scions. Down the mountain, Li Xihong was the most noticeably different, and both Li Xizhi and Li Ximing were amiable to talk to. Seeing this, Li Yuanjiao wasn't sure if it was good or bad.

'Yuan Chengdun, Xiao Ruyu, and others all possess this ease, which comes from a solid family foundation and strong background, inherently bestowed. They can befriend heroes and maintain amicable alliances.'